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Mark McCall addresses speculation Owen Farrell is off to Racing 92

Saracens' Owen Farrell (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images for Sale Sharks)

Saracens boss Mark McCall has responded to the speculation in the French media that Owen Farrell is reportedly “very close” to committing to a two-year deal with Racing 92.

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The England skipper, who is on a Test rugby sabbatical following the recent Rugby World Cup, is out of contract at the London club at the end of the 2023/24 season and was linked on Friday with a switch to Stuart Lancaster’s Parisians instead of accepting a renewed deal at Saracens and remaining available for international selection next season.

Saracens were away to Leicester on Saturday in the Gallagher Premiership and before the game kicked off at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, McCall was asked by TNT Sports to give his take on the club-future speculation now surrounding Farrell.

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Jacques Nienaber on evolution and why he left international rugby

Former Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber has given his first Leinster press conference and at it spoke about how big a role family played in his decision to leave Test rugby. He also spoke about evolution and how it will take a while to get things right at Leinster.

Video Spacer

Jacques Nienaber on evolution and why he left international rugby

Former Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber has given his first Leinster press conference and at it spoke about how big a role family played in his decision to leave Test rugby. He also spoke about evolution and how it will take a while to get things right at Leinster.

“I understand why you need to ask me the question but you also know that I can’t answer it,” he said. “Our club, like all clubs, don’t deal in or talk about speculation and we won’t be talking about this one.”

Asked if Farrell – or others – went to France, would he understand, McCall added: “There are always two different cases. Obviously, there is a real need to keep the young talent playing in the Premiership and the rule that means have got to be in the Premiership to play for England is a really important rule. I can understand when players who have had long careers at one club why they want to experience something different.

The Farrell-related questions ended with McCall was asked if players become better by playing in the French Top 14.

“It depends on who you talk to. Some people have had some great experiences and some have had some terrible experiences but there are a lot of good things going on in the Premiership – we shouldn’t be talking the Premiership down. There are a lot of good clubs.

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“We are in the middle of a transition, to be honest, and we have some players who have been at the club for a long time and who are nearing the end of the careers and we want to send them off with a bang.”

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AM 9 minutes ago
'Freelancer' Izaia Perese shows the need for true inclusivity in Australian rugby

That's Cron's job though. Australia has had one of the most penalised scrums in international rugby for a long time. Just look at the scrum win loss percentage and scrum penalties. That is your evidence. AA has been the starter during that period. Pretty simple analysis. That Australia has had a poor scrum for a long time is hardly news. If bell and thor are not on the field they are woeful. So you are just plain wrong. They have very little time for the lions so doing the same old things that dont work is not going to get them there.


Ainsley is better than our next best tighthead options and has been playing well at scrum time for Lyon in the most competitive comp in the world. Superstar player? No. But better than the next best options. So that is a good enough guide. The scrummaging in the Prem is pretty good too so there is Sio's proof. Same analysis for him. Certainly better in both cases than Super, where the brumbies had the worst win loss and scrum pen in Super. Who plays there? Ohh yes... And the level of scrummaging in Super is well below the URC, prem and France with the SA teams out.


Nongorr is truly woeful. He's 130kg and gets shoved about. That just should not be happening at that weight for a specialist prop who has always played rugby cf pone with leauge. He has had enough time to develop at 23. You'd be better off with Pone who is at least good around the field for the moment and sending Nongorr on exchange to France or England to see if they can improve him with better coaching as happened with Skelton and Meafou. He isn't going to develop in time in super if he has it at all.


Latu is a better scrummaging hooker than BPA and Nasser. and he's the best aussie player over the ball at ruck time. McReight's super jackling percentage hasnt converted to international level but latu consistently does it at heniken level, which is similar to test level in the big games. With good coaching at La Rochelle he's much improved though still has the odd shocker. He should start the November games.

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