'We need people like him': Gatland's take on Owen Farrell's potential ban after red card

Wales head coach Warren Gatland said the right decision was made on Owen Farrell’s red card but hoped that England’s captain wouldn’t spend too long on the sidelines.

Farrell faces the possibility of missing the entire pool stages of the Rugby World Cup if the six-week mid entry point is deemed necessary, which is for foul play resulting in head/neck contact.

His shot on Wales flanker Taine Basham was deemed to be shoulder to the head with “a high degree of danger” and “no mitigation” by the bunker.

Gatland, who has coached Farrell on many occasions as part of the British & Irish Lions, said the game ‘needs’ Farrell and hoped that he would not get a lengthy sentence.

“I thought it was the right decision on the day,” Gatland said post-match.

“Hopefully for Owen’s sake he doesn’t get too long a ban because I think we need people like him in the game.

“He’ll be a big loss for England if he does pick up a lengthy ban but given [his] previous I’m not too sure what’s going to happen, but fingers crossed it’s not too bad for him.”

However, the Kiwi coach didn’t know what would be a suitable sentence for him but asked for consistency from the judiciary.

“I don’t know. We’ve seen so much inconsistency already in the last few weeks,” Gatland said.

“I look back with the Lions where Dylan Hartley gets an 11-week ban for abusing the referee, so with everything all we are looking for is consistency.”

Farrell’s four-week ban in February for a similar tackle was reduced to two weeks after completing tackle school and good conduct.

England head coach Steve Borthwick refused to speculate on what kind of sentence would be handed out, and reiterated that he would wait until the facts are known and the disciplinary procedure plays out.

“The key word there is if (Farrell will be banned) and what we will do is we will wait and see and deal with facts as I know you would expect me to,” he said.

“Deal with the facts of the situation. We will find the facts out very soon and we will deal with them.”