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Owen Farrell returns as Saracens put big score on Doncaster Knights

By PA
Owen Farrell /Getty

Owen Farrell returned to action for Saracens in their crushing 50-15 win at Greene King IPA Championship title rivals Doncaster Knights.

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England captain Farrell, making his first start for Saracens since they were relegated to the second tier, helped orchestrate an eight-try rout at Castle Park.

The fly-half missed Saracens’ shock opening-day defeat at Cornish Pirates last month and their following three bonus-point wins.

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His return – after concussion sustained in the Guinness Six Nations and a calf strain – coincided with another convincing display from Saracens, who had all six of their England stars back in the starting XV.

They fell behind to Doncaster fly-half Sam Olver’s early 40-yard penalty but responded through wing Alex Lewington’s 13th-minute try in the corner and never looked back.

Farrell helped extend Saracens’ lead to 10-3 eight minutes later when his slide-rule grubber kick was collected by Sean Maitland and the Scotland wing burst over.

Saracens full-back Elliott Obatoyinbo was held up over the line after he had cut inside at the end of another incisive move.

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But Maro Itoje muscled his way over to touch down and flanker Michael Rhodes followed up to score after the visitors had spun the ball one way and then the other for a bonus-point try out wide.

Farrell successfully converted Rhodes’ effort, having missed his first three attempts, to put Saracens 22-3 up at the interval.

Saracens wasted little time extending their lead at the start of the second period, with scrum-half Aled Davies twice darting over.

Davies’ first came after Obatoyinbo had collected a long kick to set up another sweeping counter and the second followed Elliot Daly’s superb line-breaking run.

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Farrell converted both to put Saracens 36-3 ahead before being replaced by Manu Vunipola and with a fourth straight bonus-point win in the bag, Davies, Itoje and Daly were withdrawn soon after.

Tom Woolstencroft dived over from close range for Saracens’ seventh try, converted by Vunipola, just after the hour.

Doncaster hit back as Saracens eased off the gas. Jack Davies and wing Jack Spittle both went over for converted tries, which were just reward for their side’s physical commitment to the encounter.

Another Saracens replacement, Tom Whiteley, won his kick and chase in the closing moments for the game’s final try, which Vunipola converted.

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Bull Shark 5 hours ago
Rassie Erasmus' Boks selection policy is becoming bizarre

To be fair, the only thing that drives engagement on this site is over the top critiques of Southern Hemisphere teams.


Or articles about people on podcasts criticizing southern hemisphere teams.


Articles regarding the Northern Hemisphere tend to be more positive than critical. I guess to also rile up kiwis and Saffers who seem to be the majority of followers in the comments section. There seems to be a whole department dedicated to Ireland’s world ranking news.


Despite being dialled into the Northern edition - I know sweet fokall about what’s going on in France.


And even less than fokall about what’s cutting in Japan - which has a fast growing, increasingly premium League competition emerging.


And let’s not talk about the pacific. Do they even play rugby Down there.


Oh and the Americas. I’ve read more articles about a young, stargazing Welshman’s foray into NFL than I have anything related to either the north and south continents of the Americas.


I will give credit that the women’s game is getting decent airtime. But for the rest and the above; it’s just pathetic coming from a World Rugby website.


Just consider the innovation emerging in Japan with the pedigree of coaches over there.


There’s so much good we could be reading.


Instead it’s unimaginative “critical for the sake of feigning controversial”. Which is lazy, because in order to pull that off all you need to be really good at is:


1. Being a doos;

2. Having an opinion.


No prior experience needed.


Which is not journalism. That’s like all or most of us in the comments section. People like Finn (who I believe is a RP contributor).


Anyway. Hopefully it will get better. The game is growing and the interest in the game is growing. Maybe it will attract more qualified journalists over time.

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