Owen Farrell finally addresses his infamous eight-week-old red card

England out-half Owen Farrell has expressed his remorse for the dangerous tackle on Charlie Atkinson that left the Wasps teenager unconscious during a Gallagher Premiership match last month at Saracens.  

Farrell will make his first appearance since his high challenge on Atkinson on September 5 when he leads England in Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations clash with Italy.

The 29-year-old fly-half was shown a red card and banned for five matches, forcing him to miss the knockout phase of Saracens’ Champions Cup campaign which began with a quarter-final win over Leinster and ended in agonising semi-final defeat at Racing 92.

Owen Farrell joins Eddie Jones at England’s pre-Italy media conference

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Owen Farrell joins Eddie Jones at England’s pre-Italy media conference

Speaking to media for the first time since his early September sending-off and subsequent ban, Farrell said: “No-one wants to be involved in an incident like. Not for it to end up the way it did – a player getting injured and myself getting sent off.

“There was no real intent to do that. That was never what I was trying to do, but at the same time that is what happened and you have a good look at yourself when that happens.

No sugar coating here… https://t.co/K1z6Axw9Oy

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 30, 2020

“In terms of technique, yeah, I want to get better. More than anything I’m excited to play,” he continued after England coach Eddie Jones gave him a vote of confidence to continue as captain and earn his 84th Test cap for his country in Rome.   

“I have been working on everything, not just tackling technique, which I would work on anyway. The main thing is I can’t wait to get out on the field and get playing.

“I am doing everything I can to make sure I am in the best place I possibly can be for Italy. I am in a position now where I can’t wait to play and I am looking forward to it.”

The England ‘Finishers’ consist of three uncapped players, just two players with more than ten caps each, two more with only three caps each and then there is two-cap Dan Robson 🌹😲 https://t.co/YDILWzfger

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 29, 2020