'Masters at tackle school': How the world reacted to Farrell's red

England captain Owen Farrell is set to miss the start of the World Cup after being sent off in Saturday’s 19-17 victory over Wales at Twickenham.

Farrell’s yellow card for a shoulder-led tackle to the head of Taine Basham was upgraded to a red by the bunker review system, reducing the home side to 12 men because of the yellow cards shown to Freddie Steward and Ellis Genge.

England now face the prospect losing their captain for the critical opener against Argentina on September 9, with his availability for the remainder of the group stage to be determined by a disciplinary hearing next week.

Fixtures against Ireland and Fiji complete the warm-up schedule and, while those games would be included in a suspension, his outlook will be affected by being sanctioned for dangerous tackles in the past..

As recently as January he received a ban that was reduced to three games for attending tackle school.

The global rugby fan base hasn’t exactly been kind to Farrell, who has been involved with a string of similar incidents down through the years.

Well-known journalist Sam Peter posted: “For a player so highly thought of by peers and coaches, Owen Farrell’s failure to learn how to tackle safely or effectively is extraordinary. Has been a defensive liability for England for a number of years now.”

For a player so highly thought of by peers and coaches, Owen Farrell’s failure to learn how to tackle safely or effectively is extraordinary. Has been a defensive liability for England for a number of years now.

— Sam Peters (@PlantedSam) August 13, 2023

Peter Jackson of The Rugby Paper wrote: “Owen Farrell red card. Nobody to blame but himself. Banned before the Six Nations he now faces another ban from the start of the World Cup. Not a leg to stand on.”

Owen Farrell red card. Nobody to blame but himself. Banned before the Six Nations he now faces another ban from the start of the World Cup. Not a leg to stand on.

— Peter Jackson (@JackoRugby) August 12, 2023

Alex Lowe of The Times observed “Owen Farrell received a four game ban in January for a dangerous tackle (reduced to three because of a day at tackle school). Farrell will need any ban to be reduced from the six-game entry point if he is to play any part in the RWC pool stage. Disaster for him and England.”

Owen Farrell received a four game ban in January for a dangerous tackle (reduced to three because of a day at tackle school).

Farrell will need any ban to be reduced from the six-game entry point if he is to play any part in the RWC pool stage.

Disaster for him and England.

— Alex Lowe 📰 (@AlexMLowe) August 12, 2023

Former Scotland adversary John Barclay quipped: “Owen Farrell going for a Masters at tackling school next?”.

Owen Farrell going for a Masters at tackling school next?

— John Barclay (@johnbarc86) August 12, 2023

One well known fan account poked fun at Farrell in the form of an Adam Sandler meme:

Owen Farrell in tackle school next week like pic.twitter.com/uAf9ji3VBJ

— Patricia (@_PatriciaV_) August 12, 2023

“I’ll wait and see what comes of the disciplinary process,” head coach Steve Borthwick said after the game. “Right now it would be wrong for me to comment on an individual incident that would likely go through a disciplinary procedure. I’ll deal with the facts of the situation.”

additional reporting PA