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Owen Farrell's reaction as Saracens crash out of Europe

By PA
(Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Owen Farrell was frustrated with the performance of his Saracens side after they were dumped out of the European Challenge Cup by Toulon.

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The former English champions put themselves in a strong position to win but were outmuscled before going down 25-16 at the Stade Felix Mayol, and as a result there will be an all-French final in two weeks’ time when Toulon take on Lyon in Marseille.

And Saracens captain Farrell insists his side should have done a lot better.

“We are obviously disappointed with the result but probably more with the performance, especially in that first half,” said Farrell.

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      Le French Rugby Podcast | Episode 29

      Toulouse centre Pita Ahki joins us to discuss the drama of the penalty shootout at the Aviva Stadium, whether he’d have fancied taking one, returning to Dublin to take on Leinster and much more. Plus, Benji reveals he was next in line to take a penalty when Leicester beat Cardiff in a shootout in 2009, we analyse all the European action, chat about the prospect of Eddie Jones moving to the Top 14 and pick our MEATER Moment of the Week…
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      “I feel like we could have given a better account of ourselves, especially in some areas we pride ourselves on. We will have to look inwards now, and we need to make sure it spurs us on for the rest of the season.

      “We couldn’t string too much together today. Massive credit to Toulon in the way they defended, and how they slowed down our breakdown in particular.

      “It was hard to play against. We need to make sure we figure out why, and make sure it doesn’t happen again.

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      “People will feel the way they are feeling tonight, and we will have a look at it tomorrow. We’ll get straight on to it.”

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      English representation in this season’s Challenge Cup is at end following Wasps’ defeat to Lyon earlier in the day.

      A brace of tries from France Six Nations grand slam wing Gabin Villiere along with a stunning individual effort from Jiuta Wainiqolo got Toulon over the line, while player of the match Louis Carbonel also kicked 10 points.

      Ben Earl scored Saracens’ only try with 11 points from Farrell, whose assessment of the game was shared by director of rugby Mark McCall.

      “Yes, I think that’s spot on,” said McCall when asked if he was disappointed with the manner of his side’s performance.

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      “It didn’t feel like we dealt with the occasion all that well. It was our first time back in an occasion like this.

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      “We need to see what we can learn from it. I’m not sure who did or who didn’t (play well) but it doesn’t take many for your team to be off.

      “Toulon were supercharged tonight, and the crowd was as well. We’ve got four or five weeks left of the season, and we can get something from this experience and take it into the rest of the Premiership season.

      “I thought in the first half we got harassed into doing things we didn’t want to do. Our fundamentals weren’t great in the second half.

      “Our lineout wasn’t good, and without that foundation and platform it’s very hard to play when you’re up against a team like Toulon who are on fire and as aggressive as they were.”

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      M
      MS 1 hour ago
      Why Blair Kinghorn should be nailed on as the Lions starting 15

      I can see arguments for both Kinghorn, and Keenan starting for the Lions. But I’m less convinced by some of the claims (clearly partisan) supporters are using to argue the merits of one over the other.


      For example, a number of Ireland supporters have suggested Kinghorn is ‘defensively weak’. That’s patently false - or at least on the evidence of this 6N, he’s certainly no weaker there than Keenan is, who is presumably the comparative standard they’re using. Keenan was both shrugged off in contact, and beaten on the edge for pace, a number of times during this competition.


      Equally, Scotland supporters arguing Kinghorn is the more capable ‘rugby player’ seem to have overlooked the (frankly sizeable) body of evidence demonstrating that Keenan is an excellent ball in hand distributor and decision maker. So that doesn’t hold up under scrutiny either.


      I don’t think there’s all that much to choose between them, and either would be a strong choice. I think it would be really interesting from a pure rugby perspective to see Keenan playing a ‘Scotland-esque’ style of high tempo attacking rugby. Either coming into the line more routinely as first receiver, or being swung as a pendulum and getting the ball on the edge against a stretched defence.


      That’s assuming Andy Farrell goes that route, of course. He may well just opt for his Ireland system instead, and populate it with the likes of Henshaw, Ringrose, Lowe and Keenan. I’m sure that would win the series. Quite what effect it might have on a Lions audience who were expecting something other than ‘Ireland on tour, but wearing red’ would remain to be seen.


      As for the debate at FB, the only ‘eye test’ difference I feel exists is in the pace of rugby Kinghorn (Toulouse? Scotland?) tends to play. His passing/offload game feels crisper and higher tempo than Keenan’s - and as we saw in Paris, his pace and eye for a gap from deep are superior.


      But again, that will only prove a decisive factor if Andy Farrell wants to play that way. If all he wants from his FB is to sit deep, field high balls, and mop up then there’s little between these two equally excellent players.

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