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Owen Farrell révèle ses appréhensions avant de rejoindre le Racing 92

Saracens' Owen Farrell (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Owen Farrell raconte avoir été « nerveux » lors des discussions concernant son souhait de quitter les Saracens, alors que le club de Gallagher Premiership a confirmé son départ mercredi 28 février, un mois après l’officialisation du Racing 92.

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Le club francilien avait en effet annoncé le mois dernier que Farrell s’engagerait avec lui à partir du 1er juillet pour un contrat de deux ans, ce qui le rendrait inéligible pour la sélection anglaise du fait des règles de la Rugby Football Union ne permettant pas aux joueurs qui exercent leur métier à l’étranger d’être sélectionnés dans l’équipe nationale.

Il avait rejoint les Saracens à 14 ans

Owen Farrell, 32 ans, avait déjà annoncé qu’il manquerait le Tournoi des Six Nations de cette année afin de privilégier son bien-être mental et celui de sa famille.

Dans un communiqué publié mercredi, les Saracens ont déclaré que la « chose la plus importante » était que Farrell donne la priorité à son bien-être et à celui de sa famille et qu’ils annonceraient plusieurs façons d’honorer le joueur avant son départ.

« Owen a rejoint les Saracens à l’âge de 14 ans et tout le monde au club sait que nous avons eu le privilège de travailler avec un joueur d’une génération », a déclaré le directeur du rugby des Saracens, Mark McCall. « C’est un cCompétiteur acharné sur le terrain, un coéquipier attentionné et un père de famille en dehors. Owen, c’est le cœur des Saracens depuis ses débuts en seniors. Il a joué un rôle central dans tous les succès du club. »

Bientôt sa 250e sélection avec les Saracens

« C’est difficile de quitter un endroit qui a été ma maison depuis que j’ai 14 ans », a déclaré Farrell dans une interview publiée sur le compte des Saracens sur X (anciennement Twitter).

« La décision a été difficile à prendre, mais elle est passionnante pour notre famille. Nous n’avons jamais envisagé de faire quelque chose de différent auparavant.

« Mais pour la première fois, nous avons pensé qu’il serait bon d’aller vivre quelque chose de différent et le moment nous semble bien choisi.

« Les Saracens est un endroit très difficile à quitter. Le club a été fantastique avec nous, et ça compte beaucoup. J’ai tout aimé dans cet endroit, les gens en particulier, et je serai toujours reconnaissant envers les fans qui nous encouragent chaque week-end. »

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L’international anglais aux 112 sélections rejoindra le club parisien pour un contrat de deux ans et retrouvera son ancien entraîneur, Stuart Lancaster, ainsi que le capitaine sud-africain Siya Kolisi.

Il fera sa 250e apparition sous le maillot des Saracens contre les Harlequins lors du retour du Gallagher Premiership vers la fin du mois de mars.

Les champions de Premiership en titre se battent encore sur deux fronts cette saison, puisqu’ils occupent la quatrième place du championnat et doivent affronter Bordeaux-Begles en avril dans le cadre des huitièmes de finale de l’Investec Champions Cup, ce qui permettrait à Farrell de terminer sa carrière à Saracens en beauté.

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Bull Shark 1 hour ago
David Campese names his Springbok world player of the year winner

Why is Joe Schmidt the best option for Australia? (LONG READ)


An essay for @OJohn with love from South Africa.


OJohn keeps banging on about kiwis and Saffers and everyone else seeking to undermine and bring down Australian rugby… Blah, Blah, Blah. It’s boring and not worth responding too 99 days out of 100.


He misses the point completely that Australians either are or are not the masters of their own destiny. So to blame anyone else but themselves for what the state of Australian rugby is in - is hypocritical.


But recently, Australia has shown signs of life. Personally, I always believed they would be back at some point. At the beginning of this year I predicted that the wallabies would bounce back this year. I predicted that they would overtake England in the world rankings. I am predicting that they could finish second in the RC, could win the Lions series and could make it to a RWC final at home.


I tend to get ahead of myself when I’m excited... Ask my wife. But forgive me for getting excited about the Wallabies looking good! Is it so bad?


Like OJohn, I believe that Australia’s lands abound with natures gifts, including athletic specimens across any sporting code the Aussies compete in. It’s one of the reasons most of us don’t like Aussies. They win sh1t. Regularly. And look smug when they do...


But back to OJohn. And his banging on about the need for Australia to have an Australian coach. Here are a few highlights of his argument:


Several times I've given a list of half a dozen Australian coaches who would be more Australian than Schmidt and just as successful.

Tell me which Australian coaches would be acceptable to coach the All Blacks ......?

Because South Africans and Kiwis and Welshmen and Scotsman are all s.... scared that if an immensely talented and athletic team like Australia is ever able to harness nationalistic Australian passion with an Australian coach, you'll all be s.c.r.e.w.e.d.


And then finally – the list of 6 🥴:


Ewen McKenzie, Less Kiss, Stephen Larkham, Jim McKay, David Nucifora, Scott Wisenthal, Ben Mowen, Rod Kafer, Mick Byrne, John Manetti, Jason Gilmore, Dan McKellar.

Plus, a special request:


Keep in mind Rod MacQueen never won a Super Rugby title before he was appointed Wallaby coach but he ended up the greatest rugby coach the world has ever seen. Better than Erasmus even. Who is probably the next best.

Right. I don’t care about the tinfoil hat theories. I want to assess OJohn’s list and determine whether any of them fit the mold of a Rod Macqueen.

 

Like Rod Macqueen the following world cup winning coaches never won a Super Rugby Title:


·       David Kirk, 1987 (17 appearances for New Zealand)

·       Kitch Kristie, 1995

·       Rod Macqueen, 1999

·       Clive Woodward, 2003 (21 Appearance for England)

·       Jake White, 2007 (School Teacher)

·       Graham Henry, 2011 (School Teacher)

·       Steve Hansen, 2015 (Policeman)

·       Rassie Erasmus, 2019 (36 Appearances for South Africa)

·       Jacques Nienaber, 2023 (Physiotherapist).


I couldn't find out what Rod or Kitch did other than coach.


The only coach who has won a Super title and a World Cup?

·       Bob Dwyer, 1991 (A Tahs man wouldn’t you know!)


In fact coaches that have won super rugby titles have not won world cups. Robbie Deans. Heyneke Meyer to name just two.


I know I’m being childish, but I needed to bring this list in somehow because it’s quite obvious that whatever these coaches did before they became international level coaches is largely immaterial. Or is it?


Interestingly Ewan McKenzie (A Tah Man!) has won a Super title. And despite being a Tah Man made it into OJohn’s list. That’s two strikes for Ewan Mckenzie based on OJohn’s criteria so far. Not to mention his 50% win rate as head coach of the Wallabies between 2013 and 2014 (and the laundry list of off the field fcuk ups that swirled around the team at the time).


So Ewan is out.


I find it interesting that, as we speak, eight out of the ten top ranked men’s teams are coached by former international players:

1.      South Africa, Rassie Erasmus (36 appearances for South Africa)

2.      Ireland, Andy Farrell (8 appearances for England)

3.      New Zealand, Scott Robertson (23 appearances for New Zealan)

4.      France, Fabien Galthie (64 appearances for France)

5.      Argentina, Felipe Contemponi (87 appearances for Argentina)

6.      Scotland, Gregor Townsend (82 appearances for Scotland)

7.      England, Steve Borthwick (57 appearances for England)

8.      Australia, Joe Schmidt (School Teacher)

9.      Fiji, Michael Byrne (Aussie Rules Player)

10.  Italy, Gonzalo Quesada (38 appearances for Argentina).


It would appear as though we have entered an era where successful international coaches, largely, have played rugby at international level in the professional era. Or are ex school teachers. Much like Jake White and Graham Henry! Or a policeman.

 

Back to OJohn’s List. That leaves us with:


·       Less Kiss, (I like the look of)

·       Stephen Larkham, (I like the look of)

·       Jim McKay, (Very little to write home about)

·       David Nucifora, (Too old)

·       Scott Wisenthal, (I literally can’t find anything on him on the Google).

·       Ben Mowen, (Too young, no coaching experience)

·       Rod Kafer, (No coaching experience)

·       Mick Byrne, (He’s coaching the Fijians, Aussie rules!)

·       John Manetti, (Can’t find him on the google)

·       Jason Gilmore, (Seems to be working through the ranks, coaching Wallabies A)

·       Dan McKellar, (Not much to write home about, but could be an option).


Applying some logic, I would say the following are viable options based on age, experience in coaching AND the fact that they have played rugby for Australia in the professional era:

·       Less Kiss, (I like the look of)

·       Stephen Larkham, (I like the look of)

·       Jason Gilmore, (Seems to be working through the ranks, coaching Wallabies A)


After having done all this research, I think it’s fair to say that none of these three have the same pedigree as Joe Schmidt, the teacher. Who took a sh1tty Ireland team to no.1. Won a few 6 Nations and helped get the All Blacks to a world cup final in 2023.


Joe’s the best option for now. But if Kiss, Larkham and Gilmore are the business for the future for Australia get them in now as assistants to Joe and stop moaning!!


Errors and Ommissions Excepted. Mispelling of names is OJohn's fault.

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