Owen Farrell “fully accepts he needs to change” his tackle technique after he was named as England captain for the Six Nations despite his three-week suspension. In a further development which lays bare the extent to which a disciplinary loophole has been exploited, it is also understood Farrell is due to play a full part in England’s training camp next week despite his “availability” for a club fixture.
Farrell was on Monday unveiled as captain by Steve Borthwick, who also left out Billy Vunipola, Jonny May and Jack Nowell from the first squad of his England tenure. The 20-year-old fly-half Fin Smith is among the eye-catching uncapped inclusions while Dan Cole, Elliot Daly and Ben Earl all return having fallen out of favour under Eddie Jones.
Farrell’s selection was effectively rubber-stamped last week when the Rugby Football Union sought to clarify the situation by writing to inform Saracens he was available for their match against Bristol on 28 January, thereby ensuring that game counted towards his ban, in turn making him available for England’s Six Nations opener against Scotland on 4 February.
Borthwick insisted he played no part in the process, beyond seeking clarity last week to ensure he would not be jeopardising Farrell’s availability by picking him. The head coach refused to say whether Farrell would have played against Bristol if he were not banned, however – a key issue because he almost certainly would not have as players selected in England’s Six Nations squad are traditionally not released to their clubs the weekend before the championship starts.
In reality Farrell is not available to face Bristol – he is suspended – despite the RFU’s decision to write to Saracens stating otherwise to ensure he is free to train fully and captain his side in the Calcutta Cup. It is also understood that Farrell is not even due to leave England’s camp early next week to at least maintain the pretence he is being released for the Bristol fixture. Instead, like the rest of the squad, he is due to be in camp until next Friday evening, leaving less than 24 hours before kick-off.
Forwards Ollie Chessum, Dan Cole, Ben Curry, Alex Dombrandt, Ben Earl, Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Joe Heyes, Jonny Hill, Nick Isiekwe, Maro Itoje, Courtney Lawes, Lewis Ludlam, George McGuigan, Bevan Rodd, Sam Simmonds, Kyle Sinckler, Mako Vunipola, Jack Walker, Jack Willis
Backs Elliot Daly, Owen Farrell, Tommy Freeman, Ollie Hassell-Collins, Dan Kelly, Max Malins, Joe Marchant, Alex Mitchell, Cadan Murley, Henry Slade, Fin Smith, Marcus Smith, Freddie Steward, Manu Tuilagi, Jack van Poortvliet, Ben Youngs
“My point of view is that I’m England head coach, my job is to select the players that are available to me,” said Borthwick. ”The disciplinary system is run completely as an independent process, and I think we’d agree there should be that split. We all wanted clarity and I sought clarity on it last week. I was informed unequivocally by the RFU’s legal department on Friday that Owen would be available for the first game of the Six Nations.”
Farrell’s ban was issued for a high tackle on Gloucester’s Jack Clement - marginally too high rather than malicious - but he has developed a reputation, in part, due to his aggressive approach in defence. He was banned for five weeks in September 2020 for a nasty high tackle on Charlie Atkinson and sparked controversy for a hit on South Africa’s Andre Esterhuizen in England’s narrow victory over the Springboks in 2018.
“I think right across the sport we know we need to change,” said England’s defence coach Kevin Sinfield. “Owen fully accepts he needs to change and is willing to work extremely hard at it. Anybody who worked with me at Leicester will know how hard we went after tackle height. We want kids around the country to pick good [habits] up, boys and girls, to play our sport. We want parents to be happy that their kids are playing, so we absolutely support the safety measures.”
Borthwick insisted it was a straightforward decision to hand Farrell the captaincy while appointing Courtney Lawes and Ellis Genge as his vice-captains. He would not be drawn on the suspicion he will play Farrell at fly-half rather than inside-centre and insisted the door remained open for omitted players such as Vunipola, May and Nowell, who have 185 caps between them.
“[Owen] has always been that incredibly competitive, driving character, always. But he has added more layers to his leadership,” said Borthwick. “I’ve chatted to all the players and they’ve all been very complimentary about Owen’s leadership.”
