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Owen Farrell: To ignore the evidence of our own eyes is not an option

Owen Farrell of England reacts as players of England warm up prior to the Summer International match between England and Wales at Twickenham Stadium on August 12, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Shortly after Kevin Pietersen was finally ditched by the England cricket team around a decade ago I sat next to one of his 2005 Ashes-winning team-mates at a benefit dinner.

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“It’s all a bit of a balancing act with KP,” he said. “When he is scoring loads of runs you overlook the baggage that comes with him. But now he is getting older and not doing as well with the bat having him around just isn’t worth the hassle.”

Judged by social media, many followers of English rugby are now expressing similar sentiments about Owen Farrell’s presence in their national team.

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Despite his sending off in yesterday’s World Cup warm-up game against Wales for a high shot on Taine Basham the England regime will doubtless circle the wagons around Saracens’ no.10.

After all, following his appointment as successor to Eddie Jones, Farrell was the man that Steve Borthwick quickly identified as his preferred captain. According to those with the inside track, even without the armband, the 31-year-old was the self-appointed ‘Guvnor’ within the England camp.

Through much of his 100-plus cap test career which has embraced Lions tours and produced well over 1,000 points the man who made his international debut as a callow 20-year-old in 2012 has set standards and broken records.

But Farrell is no Jonny Wilkinson. His career has also been littered with controversies relating to a dodgy tackle technique which values World Rugby’s safety drive and the need to own the possible consequences of your actions some way below being ultra-physical, abrasive and in-your-face – both metaphorically and on occasions literally.

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England Borthwick Wales reaction
Owen Farrell argues with Dan Biggar (Photo by PA)

In evidence there is the 2018 incident involving André Esterhuizen during England’s narrow win over South Africa to consider. Also, a pair of red cards earned while on Saracens duty one of which featured a truly horrendous assault on Wasps’ Charlie Atkinson, the other a high shot on Gloucester’s Jack Clement.

Ironically the second of these saw the RFU send their most experienced player to ‘tackle school’ so his ban conveniently ended just ahead of the 2023 Six Nations. When he again appears in front of the blazers this week this eyebrow-raising episode will not only ensure the rugby world is watching carefully but also reduces options to mitigate a full-length ban. Shiny shoes, club tie and a letter about his charity work may be his best option…

It seems that Farrell’s behind-closed-doors personality and contribution to both his club and country comes across very differently to his on-pitch persona. Is this the true Owen? Perhaps…but when you are England’s captain performing for huge sums of money in a packed stadium in front of the world’s media asking the wider rugby-watching public to ignore the evidence of their own eyes is not an option.

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On this example-setting front, England’s skipper has on occasions treated match officials with total contempt. Like it or not, an ability to communicate effectively with the referee – in the style of Sam Warburton or Martin Johnson – is a key part of international rugby, so regardless of the knock-on damage this is causing in the recreational game Farrell’s attitude – like that of Johnny Sexton, Dan Biggar and various others – is not helping his team.

I once sat a couple of rows behind Farrell in the Ricoh Arena press box while he was rested by Saracens for a late-season Premiership game against Wasps. Seemingly oblivious to the journalists and spectators around him he spent 80 minutes arguing loudly with every decision that went against his club, often standing up to remonstrate. I remember watching the faces of a couple of young Wasps fans who, seated a few metres away with their parents, were taking in his every word. Passionate and committed but way beyond the mark and certainly not the behaviour of a role model.

Atkinson Wasps Farrell
(Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Going back to the Pietersen analogy, Farrell’s record from the kicking tee has through much of his career borne comparison with the very best to have ever played the sport. Is this still the case? Last year’s Six Nations suggests not.

There is also the question of where he should play and how that allows Borthwick to best utilise his resources. The Ford-Farrell-Tuilagi midfield axis that took England to the 2019 World Cup final has for reasons of fitness and selection featured little since and when England paired Farrell with a smaller centre such as Henry Slade outside Ford or Marcus Smith they looked lightweight.

There is a reason why Saracens have always played Farrell at no.10 – where it must be noted he had outstanding decision makers in Richard Wigglesworth and Brad Barritt either side of him for much of his career.

But with England devoid of attacking inspiration and creativity there are plenty that consider Smith or Ford to be the men who could light the blue touch paper if given some freedom and the right options around them. Borthwick has clearly placed all his eggs in a ‘Farrell at fly half’ basket, but should his skipper get a lengthy ban this gives him an opportunity to recall the unselected Slade and totally change England’s direction of travel?

Borthwick won the 2021/22 English Premiership and by doing so earned himself the England job with a pragmatic, power-based Leicester side. England’s boss has now selected a World Cup squad with plenty of blunt objects and not so many rapiers – but we shouldn’t forget that 5ft 9, 13-stone George Ford was at the heart of the Tigers’ success and presumably is therefore a live option for him.

George Ford
George Ford of Sale Sharks looks on during the EPCR Challenge Cup Round Of Sixteen match between Cardiff Rugby and Sale Sharks at Cardiff Arms Park on April 01, 2023 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Ryan Hiscott/Getty Images for Sale Sharks)

Throw in that many of England’s best performances in the second half of the Jones era came when the less domineering Courtney Lawes was captaining the side it is not unreasonable to conclude that the players felt more relaxed – even less suffocated – by Farrell’s absence.

Should Farrell pick up a ban that extends to three or more games – which he definitely should for a second identical red card in under 12 months and fourth in all – Borthwick has a big decision to make since this removes his captain from the World Cup opener against Argentina and potentially beyond.

With Smith presumably pencilled in to start game three against Chile, should England’s skipper receive a four-match ban – allowing for the remaining warm-up games against Ireland and Fiji – he is effectively not back in contention until his country’s final pool match against Samoa.

If England lose their opener against Argentina this could well be a qualification decider, in which changing your half-back axis is a very big call. Equally, should England win this game plus the Argentina and Japan games with Ford at no.10 why then make a change?

At this point, is there any point in Farrell being part of the squad in the intervening period instead of a match-fit and fully available alternative such as Slade?

In addition, Farrell’s 32nd birthday will have been and gone by the end of France 2023 so might the post-World Cup era begin with a younger man at fly half?

Food for thought.

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Comments

21 Comments
C
CO 466 days ago

I don't mind Farrell but after today's performance and the zero tolerance for high tackle there's no way I'd pick him ahead of Ford at flyhalf and Tuilagi eats him for breakfast as preferred inside centre.

What's he like at fulback?

A
Anthony 493 days ago

England wont win at tiddlewinks with Ford at 10. Have people forgotten the england back line have been useless for years with Ford at 10.
Hasnt made lions 3 times . So its not just me .
He disappears in the big games and just passes the ball to the nearest carrier who them gets smashed as the opposition just know he will hardly ever make a break .
What is the matter with people.
For gods sake play ford and lets be done with it.
We will be out before you know it.
We can then start a fresh team with ball players and runners .
Honestly !!

C
CRZ38L 493 days ago

The article only mentions Farrell's previous discretions where he was banned, yet we all know Farrell has gotten off lightly throughout his career. There have been numerous test matches where he has led with the shoulder, on some occasions stopping a certain try, yet he was never carded or banned. It's about time his defensive technique is being called out, he should be banned entirely from the RWC.

J
Johnny 493 days ago

You're deluded. Firstly, to discount his leadership on the pitch is nothing shy of glib, and to then suggest Henry Slade (ability notwithstanding) as a replacement given positional & strength differences is preposterous - let alone communication on the pitch. Faz is the only one you consistently hear leading his team & directing through the ref's mic - how many other 'stand up' guys like that are in our XV?

Granted there has been numerous offences but Basham was clearly already on his way down so by no means is Saturday's incident comparable to the (deplorable) hit on Charlie Atkinson.

Yet another example of a journalist talking absolute dross for a few clicks. Go back to sleep.

R
Rick 493 days ago

It’s a pity he didn’t progress through juniors in Rugby League; that nonsense would have been smacked right out of him by 18.
Very predictable.
At the end of the 1st half, he gave an inside pass while there was a space outside; couldn’t see what was in front of him. All opposition has to do to get the ball back is show him a patch of green to kick to.

R
Ruby 493 days ago

Dude thinks he's playing Rugby League in 2008, unfortunately he's not going to learn, he's clearly set in his ways.

D
David 494 days ago

Farrell is arrogant and spends his time attempting to intimidate teammates and officials alike. All he succeeds in doing is putting a target on his back for oppositions to aim at. He then struggles to cope with the attention and gets angry as a result. His presence and personality are not dissimilar to Paul Ince at Man. Utd some years back which worked initially but in time failed as teammate’s skills and abilities were left to stagnate and die - hence England RFC current position! Time for change.

d
dave 494 days ago

Great article. Serial offender. Diminished skills. And a bit of a bore. Drop him Steve. The RU will ensure he gets no more than 4 matches, probably 3. Should be 6.

U
Utiku Old Boy 494 days ago

Serial offender. After so many chances, the ban should be the maximum allowed - no reductions.

P
Peter 494 days ago

I have thought for some time that regardless of whatever talent Farrell might have his dominant behaviour stifles other players and in particular inhibits the effectiveness of the leadership group. I certainly think Ford and Smith play better without his presence! As does Itoje.

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JW 1 hour ago
Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

It's just an endemic problem within EPCR. Glasgow threw away the game on the weekend too by resting players. Those sorts of crazy results are all over tournament.


The closest knockout result in 23' was a 14 point win. 24' had a 1, 3 and 12 point margin games, the rest all 30/40 point thrashings by the home team. In every single game.

“We are not disrespecting [the tournament], but we need to get ourselves into a better position. I don’t know how we solve it. It’s like being invited to someone’s birthday party, then complaining about the chips. We are so grateful to be here.

Haha that's a great line, thanks for the share.


The issue is not really solving the itinerary for South African teams, that is easy, the problem is solving it for the teams that are required to come back from South Africa and win the following week. The perfect example of this was La Rochelle last year having to beat Stormers away and then return for a day to France before heading off to Dublin. They consequently but unsurprising got spanked. It's the same problem Super Rugby created when it required higher ranking sides to travel to another countries top team at the pointy end of the season.


As has been discussed in a recent article about England having too many teams in EPCR, the problems are many and varied in general. Combining EPCR and league games into a signle itinerary/season is no problem, both comps simply need to get together at planning stage and be prepared to have flexible weekends where the two comps are swapped around, but is it going to be as easy to suggest that the EPCR just needs a week off from the Ro16 stage to Quarters (or pool to Ro16 I can remember which it was)? What if that LaRvStomers game was a quarter, when is the semi, or the final going to be played?


South Africa's future is, of course, in South Africa. There is talk of a group wanting to create a Super League in America, touring big cities, no doubt some in the Middle East being included, in a World Series type format of the games biggest stars. It's a terrible idea by itself, but especially when there is already Europe, the ME, and all of Africa crying out for more high level rugby, and South Africa's huge abundance of players that can provide it.

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