England Six Nations: Owen Farrell to play fly-half for Saracens

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Owen Farrell

Saracens boss Mark McCall has promised Owen Farrell time at fly-half ahead of England's Six Nations campaign.

The 21-year-old came off the bench to play at outside centre in Sunday's narrow scoring two penalties.

Veteran number 10 Charlie Hodgson also kicked two penalties as he retained his position at fly-half.

"Owen will play some rugby at 10 over the next two or three weeks," McCall told BBC Radio 5 live.

"He'll get plenty of rugby there to make sure he's in good form for England when the Six Nations begins."

England head coach Stuart Lancaster favoured Leicester's Toby Flood as his starting number 10 for the defeats by Australia and South Africa this autumn.

But Farrell was handed the fly-half berth for the historic kicking 17 points.

And the 12-cap back has until 2 February to persuade Lancaster he should start England's Six Nations opener against Scotland - the same fixture in which he made his international debut last year.

"Owen is very aware of the plan we have over the next three weeks - and has been since he came back from England's autumn internationals - about when he will play 10 and when he won't," said McCall. "He is very happy with that plan."

Farrell's six points from the boot against Saints proved vital to the result, with Saracens leading by 11 points in the early stages but holding on to go second in the Premiership.

"You've got to look back across the whole 80 minutes and if you haven't reflected your dominance on the scoreboard that's obviously a problem," said director of rugby McCall. "And the game was tight because of that.

"But there are signs of us developing nicely. The players are confident, our game is in good order and it's another very good win."

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56 comments

  • Comment posted by I can I can t, at 12:09 31 Dec 2012

    MattP90 Don't you think this is dad putting son first?

  • Comment posted by U15467002, at 17:43 31 Dec 2012

    Farrell's future surely lies at FH, he isn't quick enough to play 13 in the long run. Hodgson should be retiring in the next couple of years and Farrell will get his chance, playing a couple of other positions in the mean time will do him no harm.

  • Comment posted by U15415966, at 17:44 31 Dec 2012

    Like most posters on here I am a massive fan of Burns. However I also like the way that Lancaster has run the team since he has taken over. Farrel may not be the most creative and incisive player, but he has the shirt at the moment and has done nothing to lose it. Burns will get his chance, but will have to wait his turn or dominate something rotten in the AP. Farrel to start Burns on the bench

  • Comment posted by U15536233, at 10:48 31 Dec 2012

    I've nothing against Farrell, but surely to play fly-half at international level then you should be the first choice in that position at club level.
    Am I missing something here?

  • Comment posted by Lee, at 15:10 2 Jan 2013

    This could only happen in England! In any other rugby playing country Freddie Burns would be a nailed on starter for his country at 10 and yet he is likely to start on the bench behind a player who is far from a certainty to be in the match-day squad for his club, let alone start, and who is also a long way from being first choice for that club in the position he plays for with England!

  • Comment posted by U10939308, at 12:13 2 Jan 2013

    It's not disrespectful to discuss player limitations, although it is a hard conversation to have. Owen Farrell is a worry because he's not a very insightful distributer and is behind several other 10s in his attacking acumen. He didn't drive the tries against the ABs. He needs the ability to bring in players at 11, 14 and 15. Difficult to have all these qualities, but hey - 10 is a key position.

  • Comment posted by U14614236, at 11:10 2 Jan 2013

    A lot of comments on here from people who are Leaguophobic. They disrespect his father and Owen himself. Sure, Owen has yet to prove he is world class, but do you people think Stuart Lancaster knows nothing? And Andy Farrell was a great rugby player in League, and if he had been born in the south would have been a great rugby player in the Union code.

  • Comment posted by Dom, at 09:31 2 Jan 2013

    Interesting to see everyone commenting on Farrell's lack of attacking flair but to me he is starting to look a bit like Jonny Wilkinson. Never the greatest attacking player but sure in defence and rarely missed penalties. It seemed to work quite well in 2003. I'm hoping Burns can make the step up but given England's view of International rugby, Farrell fits.

  • Comment posted by cambers, at 07:30 2 Jan 2013

    Difficult to deny Farrell's prowess from the kicking tee, but as an test ten he offers zip in attack. His distribution is laboured, made worse by the fact that defences know he will only pass!..In all hist test appearances he has not once taken the ball up and attacked the gain line, been tackled and presented. the ball. Simply not good enough.

  • Comment posted by U15259510, at 20:07 1 Jan 2013

    @50 I was going to go for because they are not THAT good. But I would like to see that combo in action a bit more.....

  • Comment posted by DerektheCrow, at 18:19 1 Jan 2013

    @48 injury, in three of their cases, sadly, but I hope to see better proof of the idea come the play-offs.. :)

  • Comment posted by U15556816, at 18:17 1 Jan 2013

    Either one is welcome to play in Sarnia this summer.
    Flight, accomo, r&b, lots of sun, what more could a rugby player want.

  • Comment posted by U15259510, at 18:04 1 Jan 2013

    @47 why doesn't that back line completely boss the premiership?

  • Comment posted by DerektheCrow, at 17:41 1 Jan 2013

    @46 give it time.. ;)

    @41 i agree, no one man bigger or better than the team, i too frequently disapprove of the england selection policy..

    Oh to see an england backline of burns, twelvetrees, may, sinbad, sharples and morgan.. Foden, tindall and allen on the bench..

  • Comment posted by CorseKen, at 16:53 1 Jan 2013

    Why have the bbc put a Flood v Farrell panel up, has Flood signed for Sarries too?!?!?!

  • Comment posted by U15259510, at 15:30 1 Jan 2013

    In Lewis Moody's Autobiography he talks of Andy Farrell being one of the most respected players in the 2007 WC squad. RU may not have seen him at his prime, but he knows his stuff.
    Funny that some are judging his coaching ability on his perceived playing ability, when Johnson didn't make a good coach. Its irrelevant.
    Give him time as a coach before shooting him down based on his playing skills.

  • Comment posted by F1, at 13:07 1 Jan 2013

    @32
    Unfortunately, Andy Farrell's move to Union from League was very much in the autumn of his career and as a result Union did not see the best of him. It would, therefore, be a mistake to base an opinion on those last couple of seasons.
    Rest assured, Andy Farrell was nothing short of magnificent when he was in his heyday. Wigan 1st team at 16, Challenge Cup winner at 17 & international at18

  • Comment posted by Its_not_rocket_science, at 12:53 1 Jan 2013

    Farrell Senior was not over-rated as an RL player, but as a Union player he was hugely over-rated and his inappropriate fast tracking to the England team stifled the development of home grown RU players. His club should have used him as a ball carrying second row like Brad Thorn and then he might have been good enough to play international RU.

  • Comment posted by U15003517, at 12:46 1 Jan 2013

    32.kirkstallflyer


    Do I detect the sound of someone who is so committed to RU than anything to do with RL gets short shrift regardless of merit?

    I hope I am wrong about that?

  • Comment posted by U15259510, at 08:44 1 Jan 2013

    Also worth noting England's lack of attack isn't just down to the 10. A questionable centre partnership plays a big part. But mainly forwards not providing the platform. We all saw what England can do when their forwards do dominate.....

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