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The Farrell reaction to an England squad missing some big names

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

England skipper Owen Farrell has given his reaction to the latest squad picked by Eddie Jones, a selection that had no place for the Vunipola brothers Mako and Billy nor George Ford, the player who has so often worn the No10 jersey during the Australian coach’s tenure. Jamie George, another seasoned player, was also left out only to be quickly called up for this week’s training camp in Jersey after Luke Cowan-Dickie was ruled out through injury.

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“I have never thought no one was undroppable,” said Farrell when representing England at Tuesday’s Autumn Nations Series media launch. “You always have to work hard to be in this team. You always have to work hard to play in these games and that is never going to be any different. Excited about what is coming up, excited about what is in front of us and we will do everything we can to play well. 

“The team that is together now hopefully has got a brilliant blend to it of experience and youth and that is exciting for what is in front of us. I am sure some other people will still have some bits to say about that as well, but we are looking forward to getting together as quickly as we possibly can and not feeling our way in but throwing ourselves into what is in front of us now.”

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Ex-England skipper Chris Robshaw guests on RugbyPass Offload

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Ex-England skipper Chris Robshaw guests on RugbyPass Offload

Tonga, Australia and South Africa await England on successive November Saturdays and Farrell admitted he never took his own place for granted even though he has been Jones’ skipper for quite some time. “I don’t expect anything from a squad announcement. I don’t expect anybody to be in. 

“You are waiting for a phone call to see if you get picked yourself. You don’t want to expect too much and see what comes when the squad is announced. It’s the same as always, same as any squad, you have got to make sure you get picked. It would have been the same as every squad announcement.”

Asked what his reaction at the time was to the omission of his Saracens’ teammates, Farrell added: “I don’t know about my reaction at the time. I spoke to them when I had the chance and saw how they were. It is obviously never nice but the way that they responded has been brilliant.”

Saracens have been racing up the Gallagher Premiership table in recent weeks, doling out heavy defeats to Bath and Wasps. Farrell showed signs in these games that he is getting back to his best after Jones admitted in September his skipper wasn’t at his best when touring with the Lions. 

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“Yeah, I’d agree I could have played better, I’d agree there were parts of my game that I want to get back to and do more of. I came back this summer and couldn’t wait to get stuck into the games that were in front of us. I couldn’t wait to get back playing for the club, couldn’t wait to enjoy being out there on the field again and that is what I am at the minute and I am excited to see what is in front of us now with this England team. 

It is not the fact of not clicking, there is stuff that I can do more of that I have done well in the past or to get into my game as well. That is the same every year, that is the same every time you have a look at yourself at the end of the year and want to improve and this year is no different. The big thing is that you have got to perform in what is in front of you.”

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SK 53 minutes ago
Why England's defence of the realm has crumbled without Felix Jones

The way they are defending is sometime pathetic to be honest. Itoje is usually on the inside of the rush and he is paired with a slower tight forward. Unable to keep up with the rush we have seen the line become disconnected on the inside where the big boys are. How many times have we seen Earl rush past the first receiver almost into no mans land covering no attacker. It looks like a system without any guidance. Tome Wright, Ikitau and a number of Wallabies went back to this soft centre as did Williams, Jordan and several others. Also when the line is broken the multiple lines of defence seems to be missing. The rush is predicated on a cover and recovery system with multiple lines of defence but with England you dont see it any more. Fitness and conditioning seems to be off as well as players are struggling to keep up with the intensity of the rush. Felix Jones has left a huge hole. The whole situation was and is a mess. Why they insist on not letting him go and having him work remotely is beyond me. Its leading to massive negative press and is a hot button issue thats distracting from the squad. Also the communication around Jones and his role has been absolute rubbish and is totally disjointed. While some say he is working remotely and playing a role others are saying theres been no contact. His role has not been defined and so people keep asking and keep getting different answers. England need a clean break from him and need to start over. Whatever reason for his leaving its time to cut the rope before the saga drags the whole Borthwick regime down. As for Joe El Abd well good luck to him. He is being made to look like an amateur by the whole saga and he is being asked to coach a system thats not his and which has been perfected and honed since 2017 by Nienaber, Jones, Erasmus and Co and which was first started by White in 2004. He is literally trying to figure out a system pioneered by double world cup winning coaches at the highest level and coach it at the same time. Talk about being on a hiding to nothing.

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