Stuart Lancaster, the former head coach of England, expressed to Sky Sports that Owen Farrell is capable of returning to play for the national team and believes he “has the 2027 World Cup in him.”
Lancaster played a key role in the recent acquisition of Owen Farrell by Racing 92, a French Top 14 team, where he currently holds the position of head coach.
“(I) don’t know if it does…It depends on what he and Steve (Borthwick) thinks,” Lancaster said.
“He’s signed for two years so that takes him up to 2026. Johnny Sexton played for Ireland and Leinster until he was 38, Owen is 32. So he’s definitely got 2027 in him for sure. I would never say never, Owen won’t and why should he?
“Owen had a big part to play in the decision making about coming here. Things didn’t go well at the Rugby World Cup (for him) and for me the same thing happened in 2015 and the best thing I did was to go to Ireland.
“I hope he ends up back in England as a player or a coach, but a couple of years here will do good just like for Jonny Wilkinson when he went to Toulon.”
He added: “I’ve been through a similar thing, the World Cup didn’t go well in 2015. My children were 15 and 16 at time, my wife and my parents paid the price as well as me.
“I know what it feels like and Owen went through a really tough time at the last World Cup and people seem to forget that when the narrative is turned all the good things you’ve done in the past are forgotten and everything you’ve done is now looked at in a negative slant.
“I made a decision to go to Ireland. You’re appreciated and welcome and that’s exactly how Racing feel about Owen. We will embrace his family and he will be made welcome.”
Five players Steve Borthwick should drop – and who should start against Ireland
#1. Ollie Lawrence
Telegraph 4/10: “Perhaps unsurprisingly was not on the same page as Ford and Slade in both attack and defence in their first game together. Badly fell off a tackle on Redpath that led to Scotland’s third try.”
Planet Rugby 4/10: “Barely saw him in an attacking sense. A few carries, one bad pass, one dropped ball – although that was George Ford’s fault – but not the form we’ve seen in the Premiership.”
RUCK 5/10: “Not what the Bath centre would have wanted upon his return from injury. The powerhouse came alive with some clattering hits, yet threw a wayward pass into touch at 76 minutes that summed up his afternoon. So much more was wanted from England fans, who were excited to see him comeback.”
Replacement: Manu Tuilagi