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Why Owen Farrell's Saracens comeback will hinge on 'late decision'

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

England boss Eddie Jones is banking on his skipper Owen Farrell playing his first match in ten weeks this Sunday versus London Irish ahead of next Monday’s Six Nations squad assembly in Brighton, but Saracens have suggested they can’t make any guarantees just now that the 30-year-old will be in their Challenge Cup team. 

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Farrell limped out of action with England in their November 13 Autumn Nations Series win over Australia at Twickenham and the resulting ankle operation left him in a race against time for full fitness ahead of the February 5 start to the 2022 Six Nations away to Scotland. 

Unlike the other 35 players named in the 36-strong England squad meeting up after this weekend’s round four European action, Farrell had no recent form when it came to this week’s Test squad selection but his credit in the bank was enough to convince Jones to not only include him but to also name him as captain for the championship.

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Eddie Jones announces England’s new-generation 2022 Six Nations squad

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Eddie Jones announces England’s new-generation 2022 Six Nations squad

“He has the respect of the team, he is a winner, he drives the competitive spirit of the team and he is the right man to lead the team,” explained Jones on Tuesday when asked why he had given Farrell a vote of confidence even though he has been inactive over the winter with Saracens. 

“He is due to play this week, has another training week and then he will be eligible for selection, but we have to see where he is up to.” 

Saracens boss Mark McCall was delighted that Jones had given Farrell some leeway in the national squad selection process but, as yet, there is no guarantee that the England captain will be involved this weekend and have at least have one club match appearance under his belt before linking up with his Test colleagues.

He has been involved with the team for a couple of weeks now and has been in some team training this week, so we will see towards the end of the week whether he is able to take part in the match on Sunday,” explained McCall on Wednesday afternoon.

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“We will see how he recovers from that team training. We have a few more training sessions to go before the game on Sunday, and we will make a late decision on whether that is possible. There is going to be a late decision. This is the first week Owen is going to be team training and we have just got to see how he reacts to the training he had yesterday [Tuesday] and has tomorrow [Thursday] before we make a decision.”

Whether he plays or not this weekend, McCall was glad Farrell was still in favour with England. “I am biased, I guess. I get the pleasure of working with Owen on a daily basis and see the influence he has on our group, on our team. Like Eddie said yesterday he is a born competitor, a born winner but a great inspiration in the group here. He makes such a massive difference when he is around and I am not surprised at all.”

A few weeks ago when discussing Farrell’s likely return-to-play date, McCall suggested it was possible that Jones might release the England skipper back to Saracens for their January 30 Premiership game versus Wasps, six days before the Six Nations opener in Edinburgh. 

It’s an idea that hasn’t been acted on yet, though. ”We haven’t had a conversation about that,” said McCall. Farrell came into last year’s Six Nations without having played a single club match over the winter for Saracens and he wasn’t at his best in the round one defeat at home to Scotland.       

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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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