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'Think how aggressive he used to be in tackling and smashing people': Ex-England international claims Farrell isn't the feared player he once was

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Ex-England international Andy Goode believes Owen Farrell is not the same player he used to be following his Gallagher Premiership red card last September for high tackling Wasps’ Charlie Atkinson, an incident that reignited the already heated debate about the legality of the England skipper tackling style. 

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The way Farrell has used his shoulders when making contact has long been under scrutiny and there was uproar some years ago when he escaped sanction for a 2018 Twickenham collision with South Africa’s Andre Esterhuizen. 

Things imploded for Farrell five months ago when he copped a five-game after he illegally battered into the teenage Atkinson during a league game at Allianz Park. That suspension ruled Farrell out of Saracens’ knockout stage Champions Cup campaign and the club’s remaining fixtures before their Premiership relegation for repeated salary cap breaches.    

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Eddie Jones gives the latest update from the England camp

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Eddie Jones gives the latest update from the England camp

The 29-year-old’s match action since then has consisted of six outings for England and last Saturday’s disappointing effort in the Guinness Six Nations defeat to Scotland came after a 62-day break in between games dating back to the December 6 Nations Cup final versus France.  

That layoff was put forward as an excuse as to why he was so ineffective playing at out-half. However, last Saturday was the fourth time in his six recent England caps that he had started in the No10 shirt as opposed to inside centre. 

Rather than blame out-half rustiness, it has now been suggested that Farrell’s fear of getting his tackling wrong has diluted his physicality in the collision and had a major negative impact on his contribution in last weekend’s shock defeat, prompting calls for him to be dropped for the round two match versus Italy this Saturday,

Goode, the ex-England out-half, told the latest episode of The Rugby Pod: “Farrell, that was his worst game I have even seen him play for England. No leadership. No direction as a 10. Okay, he kicked his goals, but tackling, he soaked up and there is a big issue now for Farrell since he got that red card.

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“You think how aggressive he used to be in tackling and smashing people when he lived on that danger zone around how he belted people. Then he got found out with what should have been a yellow card against South Africa two years ago, whatever it was, and he has not been flying into tackles anymore as hard as he used to. 

“People say he is working on his technique – and he has come out and said it. But you don’t see any difference in his technique at all, you see a difference in how hard he throws his shoulder into contact because he knows he is living on that edge of ‘this is how I tackle. If I get one a couple of inches wrong I’m off again’. 

“That’s why Cam Redpath and Scotland tested him, ‘we’re going to run at Farrell and we’re going to run at his inside shoulder, outside shoulder’ because when he is on form he wants to fly into those tackles and it might lead to a red card or whatever.”

England coach Eddie Jones vehemently backed Farrell during a media appearance on Tuesday, claiming: “He has been a highly consistent, highly successful player for us. Like a number of players on Saturday, he wasn’t at his best. I know there is a bandwagon, but he is an outstanding player and like any outstanding player they can have a game where they are not at their best. Is that a reason to drop the player? I wouldn’t think so.”

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England are due to name on Thursday their matchday 23 to face the Azzurri this weekend. The suspension-free Kyle Sinckler and the fit-again Mako Vunipola were restored to the 28-strong squad at the start of the week in place of last Saturday’s tighthead replacement Harry Williams and the uncapped Tom West. 

Farrell England tackling
Owen Farrell tackles George Turner last Saturday (Photo by Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images)

   

 

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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