Owen Farrell looks set to miss England’s opening Rugby World Cup pool fixture against Argentina in Marseille on 9 September after his 63rd-minute rush of blood against Wales at Twickenham. The Wales coach, Warren Gatland, believes the England captain could have few complaints about his upgraded red card and a potential four-match ban may now await.
England have only two more warm-up games against Ireland and Fiji before they face the Pumas and Farrell’s previous history of high tackle offences may count against him at his disciplinary hearing this week. As recently as January, Farrell received a four-week ban, later reduced to three, for a dangerous tackle in a club game and may struggle for similar mitigation this time.
