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'I understand people have opinions. That's fine' - England captain Owen Farrell not dwelling on the past

By PA
Owen Farrell (Photo by Dan Mullan - RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Images)

Owen Farrell has moved on from the toughest period of his captaincy as he looks to spearhead an England resurgence in the final two rounds of the Guinness Six Nations.

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A theme of the Championship has been Farrell’s place in the team coming under scrutiny for the first time and despite an improved performance against Wales, he is still facing calls to be dropped.

The Saracens playmaker’s leadership is also in question due to his spiky communication with referee Pascal Gauzere at the Principality Stadium, where England lacked direction during the closing stages.

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Eddie Jones & Owen Farrell England vs France Six Nations Press Conference

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Eddie Jones & Owen Farrell England vs France Six Nations Press Conference

And as a final indignity, he was criticised for his manner during a post-match TV interview.

But Farrell enters Saturday’s clash with France at Twickenham intent on looking ahead only.

“I don’t think I dwell on it. You soon come to realise what’s important and how you learn from things, take them going forward and put everything into the next thing,” he said.

“If you hold on to things for too long you take your eye off what’s actually going on now and what you can do to be in this week and be in the preparation for this game.

“A lot of people have their say and that’s fair enough. Whether it matters to us or not is another thing.

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“The thing that does matter to us is the things that go on in here, the conversations that go on, the way we see and feel it. We obviously have the biggest insight.

“I understand people have opinions. That’s fine. We are obviously going through a process of how to get the best out of ourselves and that’s more what we are focused on.”

Farrell’s Saracens team-mate Elliot Daly has been unable to retain his place following an afternoon of costly errors in Cardiff and the Lion is ousted at full-back by Max Malins.

Another Saracen, Malins has spent the season on loan at Bristol where he has been showcasing his electric running skills full of breaks, assists and tries.

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The 24-year-old makes his first start after six brief cameo appearances dating back to last autumn and Farrell expects him to shine.

Elliott Daly File Photo

“Max has been on an upwards curve in terms of his performances and is playing more regularly now,” Farrell said.

“He’s gone to Bristol in a year that’s been brilliant for him and gone through the roof in terms of having regular game time and showing how good he is consistently.

“That’s great to see from any young player: getting that chance and taking it. Max is a dangerous full-back. He makes things happen. He beats people.

“He’s quick and he’s strong and he’s got a great instinct about the game, which is a brilliant quality to have.

“He’s grown up as a fly-half predominantly, then a fly-half who can play a bit of full-back and now probably leaning a bit more towards full-back.

“He’s always been able to beat people, he’s always been able to open the game up. That’s been constant. He’s probably now just doing it more and more with the more chances that he’s got.”

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Bull Shark 10 minutes ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically. I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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