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Owen Farrell set for Top 14 bow with Racing 92 in English-heavy XV

Henry Arundell of England celebrates scoring his team's first try with teammate Owen Farrell during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 match between England and Chile at Stade Pierre Mauroy on September 23, 2023 in Lille, France. (Photo by David Ramos - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)

Former England captain Owen Farrell is set to make his Top 14 debut for Racing 92 on Saturday when they visit Castres at the Stade Pierre Fabre.

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The 112-cap England international’s move to Paris from Saracens over the summer was arguably the biggest in world rugby, as it put his international career on hold for the time being.

Farrell has been selected by his former England head coach Stuart Lancaster to start at flyhalf in a backline that has an English hue to it.

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    Racing’s midfield also includes former Sale Sharks star Sam James at inside centre, while Farrell’s former England teammate Henry Arundell is set to start on the wing.

    The English influence on the Parisian giants does not end there though, with England U20 international Junior Kpoku lining up in the back row and former England U20 international Dan Lancaster on the bench.

    Fixture
    Top 14
    Castres
    31 - 28
    Full-time
    Racing 92
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    Farrell is in charge of a stellar backline, which also includes French midfield stalwart Gael Fickou at outside centre and Fijian powerhouse Josua Tuisova on the wing.

    The side will be captained by Wales lock Will Rowlands, although it is not a squad lacking in leadership with Farrell present as well as South Africa skipper Siya Kolisi, who is still on the books for now. 

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    Racing 92 XV
    15. Max Spring
    14. Josua Tuisova
    13. Gael Fickou
    12. Sam James
    11. Henry Arundell
    10. Owen Farrell
    9. Kleo Labarbe
    1. Guram Gogichashvili
    2. Camille Chat
    3. Thomas Laclayat
    4. Will Rowlands (captain)
    5. Romain Taofifenua
    6. Junior Kpoku
    7. Cameron Woki
    8. Jordan Joseph

    Replacements
    16. Jannick Tarrit
    17. Lino Julien
    18. Fabien Sanconnie
    19. Maxime Baudonne
    20. Clovis Le Bail
    21. Daniel Lancaster
    22. Henry Chavancy
    23. Gia Kharaishvili

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    J
    JW 2 hours ago
    Razor has an about turn on All Blacks eligibility rules

    Yep, another problem!


    I think he would have, in the instance I mentioned, which wasn’t changing anything other than correctly applying todays eligibility quidelines. Which is an arbitrary construct, as the deal likely would have played out completely differently, but I just ‘allowed’ him to have 1 year sabbatically for his ‘loyalty’, rather than having some arbitrary number like 70 caps required.


    So if Richie had a 3 year deal, and the first year he was allowed to use him still, I don’t think he’d really not transition to Dmac being his main 10, as he’s obviously the only one he can use for the following two years, therefore likely his only real option for the WC (very hard for Richie to overtake him in such a short time). Richie would purely be a security net in a situation like I proposition where there are only small changes to the eligibility.


    The system is not working well enough though, as we don’t have the Rugby Championship or World Cup trophies, do we? Well on that last question, that’s all I’m really saying but I would not believe a word this author says, so it’s entirely a ‘what if’ discussion, but if the author is right and now they are actually going to be more flexible, I think that’s great yeah. Ultimately thought I think those two players were an anomaly signing their contracts and futures up so far ahead, especially of when they were performing. Both jumped at the opportunity of good contracts when their All Black prospects weren’t looking that bright.

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