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The 'massive impact' promise England have made about Owen Farrell
Richard Wigglesworth has come out in defence of England skipper Owen Farrell after the suggestion that he should be dropped for this Sunday’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final versus Fiji in Marseille.
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The all-time record England points scorer has returned to the fold in recent weeks after the expiry of the four-match ban he received for the red card he was given on August 12 versus Wales in the Summer Nations Series.
Farrell was the starting No10 in the September 23 Pool D rout of Chile, a match that England easily won 71-0. However, he was chosen for last Saturday’s clash with Samoa at inside centre with George Ford instead named at No10 and Manu Tuilagi at No13.
That was a revival of the 10/12/13 selection that was at the heart of the England success versus the All Blacks in the 2019 World Cup semi-finals but, with that tactic under wraps since a March 2020 Six Nations fixture versus Wales, last weekend’s reunion failed to fire.
Ford was subbed off early in the second half, with Tuilagi following him off midway through the second period. Farrell, who switched into out-half, was kept on until the finish but there were calls post-game for him not to be selected to start versus Fiji if England are to win in the south of France and progress to the World Cup semi-finals in Paris.
Asked on Tuesday in Aix-en-Provence for his assessment on the 10/12 Ford/Farrell partnership that was rolled out by England to start against the Samoans for the first time since March 2021 versus Ireland, assistant coach Richard Wigglesworth said: “They are two guys I would lean on in terms of their knowledge, expertise, how well they know the game. They get on really well which allows them to talk and work things out which I am sure they will do.
“We will adapt, we will pick the best team that will win this weekend. Things change when you are picking a side, whether you have more of a ball playing 12 or a power 12, and that’s right across the back line with different positions.
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“We have to pick a team that is right for this weekend and then it is our job as coaches to give them the best platform that they can go out and show their skills off.”
Asked for his particular view on Farrell, Wigglesworth added: “The term he is a winner probably gets thrown around quite a bit but that is Owen.
“He, under the harshest of pressures and in the biggest of moments, tends to get better and that is a sign of a winner and he doesn’t get just get better, he tends to have more effect on the people around him and what you get out of him.
“We know what gets said about Owen, the highest-ever points scorer, we know what he has delivered time and time again. Those players tend to catch the most flak for some reason but we have got one of the best to do it. We’re lucky to have him and no doubt he will have a massive impact on this week and this game.”
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The assistant admitted England struggled against Samoa, a match where a 73rd-minute converted try was needed by Steve Borthwick’s side to edge 18-17 in front.
Even then a last-gasp Danny Care tackle was required 75 seconds from time to prevent the Samoans from scoring the winning try. “Glimpses is the right way to describe it,” he said about their underwhelming pool-concluding display.
It was 26°C when England started their Rugby World Cup quarter-final training ground preparations on Tuesday in Aix-en-Provence. #EnglandRugby #ENGvFIJ #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/d1TinVXOOU
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 10, 2023
“Definitely, not enough of the good stuff. Too scrappy in a lot of stuff that we know is going to need a significant improvement for this quarter-final.”
Kicking and breakdown were specific aspects Wigglesworth reflected on. “We played with a lot of (kicking) variety against Chile and we got out of our half in a ruthless fashion.
“We definitely want to get back to that. We didn’t do that against Samoa. That was not intentional. That was one of the factors of the game that wasn’t good enough from us and we will make sure we will be looking to improve.
“We need the breakdown to be as clean as we can. We know Fiji is exceptional in that area. To be perfectly honest you will learn something different every game because they all referee it slightly differently because that is human nature, it is going to be slightly different.
“You want guys to get out of that tackle zone before you can compete. Fiji will tend to just compete and then work it out from there, slowing it down or taking it off you. That is going to be a huge area of the game that we need to be the best we have been because it’s definitely a super strength of theirs.”
"In terms of being public enemy No1, we're happy to take that mantle."
"Apparently there is a top four now in international rugby, I didn't know there was a table."
– Billy Vunipola issues a Rugby World Cup warning. #ENGvFIJ #EnglandRugby #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/MbxFFSB8BC
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 10, 2023
It was August 16 when England concluded their Summer Nations Series with a 22-30 loss to Fiji at Twickenham. Will they be better when the teams meet next Sunday just seven weeks after that defeat?
“I hope we are because we have spent six weeks trying to get better, trying to fast forward things as quick as possible… we’re working out big game weeks on the run because we are all new together. I would say you have got to create that feeling that right, this is the best week.
“You wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. I got that from today (at training). This is where we want to be. This is the game we want. A brilliant test for us to go against a team that beat us pre-World Cup and we were written off for us to then probably not just talk about being better but let’s go and be better.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Think it was a great defensive performance by Northampton. They didn't have stage fright in the first half, the Nienaber defense smothered them. They limited Leinster to 15-3 in the first half. It could have been over by then. A great try from Leinster in the start of the second half looked to have sealed it. But Byrne missed another conversion. Northampton started trying little kicks behind the Leinster wingers. Leinster messed one and Smith brilliantly made the conversion. Leinster decided to tighten the game after Byrne missed a straight forward penalty. A few errors got NH into the 22 and they scored and converted with a few minutes left. Another brilliant steal from Lawes saw NH have a final attack which was turned over by Conan. A classic semi final. World record attendance of 82,300. Leinsters 3 week preparation warranted for this one.
1 Go to commentsJust came back from the game and the atmosphere was amazing. Players stayed afterwards for more than a hour to sign stuff and take photos with fans. Great day out.
5 Go to commentsA great game. The Sharks without Etsebeth are a shadow of the team compared to when he plays. The limitations of Some of the expensive Sharks players are being exposed. Credit to Clermont for some exhilaration play at times.
5 Go to comments100% Mr Owens. But who would want to be a referee.? It must be the most difficult job on earth.
1 Go to commentsStarts to be overdone and oversold this systematic SA narrative…which nevertheless has the merit in this case to recognise blatant refereeing mistakes in their favor
5 Go to commentsNice article. Shades of Steinbeck. They can win the final if they take the game seriously; but only if they take it seriously.
5 Go to commentsWhat a sad way to end a glittering career. Somebody should tell him to delete his social media accounts and face the consequences of what he's done. Then he should slip away quietly into obscurity. This isn't likely to happen, something tells me he'll be back in The Sun / Daily Mail sooner rather than later.
3 Go to commentsguys its fine! he understands why he did what he did and has taken accountability for it; why should he have to be accountable to a court? after all he did was abuse people in person - its not as if he was engaging in _online_ abuse!
3 Go to commentsChiefs flanker Kaylum Boshier yellow-carded for collapsing the scrum as it rolled towards the line. It was a maul….
1 Go to commentsyou know, i’m a leinster fan so I want Northampton to lose and it is gonna be tuff with Cortney lawes, Alex michell and the other guys🏉 lets go leinster🏉
1 Go to commentsWelcome to the Pro ranks. Those hard teams of old do hit the sole better though. its a dog fight at the top.
6 Go to commentsCan someone fill me in please, I've read a number of Ben Smith articles now and it seems he's got something again South Africa? Surely, this game was over and done with 7 months ago. Can't we have something a bit more interesting and relevant, or is this the calibre of journalist on this site?
237 Go to commentsNot sure what the Welsh are moaning about. They’ve had far more players off England, than England have had off Wales. Guys like Josh Hathaway and Kane James will play for Wales in the end. And they’ll be fsr better players for having played in the Gallagher Premiership, than they ever would have been had they stayed mired in the shambles that is Welsh rugby.
4 Go to commentsThis is all being blown totally out of proportion. First of all, since half the Irish team isn’t Irish - it’s very likely that none of the Irish players said that at all and, thus, we’re not being arrogant. Second, since half the Irish team is Kiwi - it’s very likely the Kiwi players were predicting a NZ SA World Cup final. Which they got spot on. Good on them!
163 Go to commentsAha. An Irishman with logic! Follow the flow: - Ireland peaks with a >80% win record between 2020 and 2023. And then… - crashes out of another QF at the WC; - Beat a poor French Team; - Beat 6N wooden spoonists Italy; - Play shite against eventual wooden spoonists Wales; - Lose against the most boring, “the worst English team ever” , a team widely regarded as unable to attack; - scrape through against Scotland. This article, No - Trimble, is on the money! Except for one glaring statement: _The Springboks have a few aces in the hole in this debate being the reigning world champions and official world number ones_ There is no debate, boys and girls. There it is. In black and white. “Reigning World Champions and OFFICIAL world number ones”. Come July, the overrated Andy Farrell and this overhyped team are going to enter into a world of hurt.
90 Go to commentsI’d like to know what homoerotic events Daniel enjoyed at 8th man. I clearly missed out!
20 Go to commentsThis article is missing some detail, like some actual context or info about what led to him abusing the ref.
2 Go to comments*They used to say that football is a gentleman sport watched by hooligans and rugby is a hooligan sport watched by gentlemen. How times have changed.*
3 Go to commentsexcept ot wasnt late wasnt late at all so dont know why you all saying its late he commits early and its your fault fir not paying attention
30 Go to commentsNot sure the Bulls need another average utility back in their ranks. Chamberlain has been ok for the Sharks but is by no means an X-Factor player. Bulls bought several utility backs which they barely use. A typical example would be Henry Immelman who plays mostly Fullback. The Bulls however have rarely played him this year and he has played wing or centre. Bulls want to build depth but seems like they have too many surplus players
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