Owen Farrell played a pivotal role in England’s quarter-final World Cup victory against Fiji, contributing 20 out of their 30 points through successful kicks.
However, the highly regarded Welsh referee, Nigel Owens, expressed his belief that the England captain should have been shown a yellow card late in the game.
Farrell’s suspension prior to the tournament was a major point of discussion leading up to the World Cup. He had received a red card in a warm-up match against Wales for a dangerous high tackle, causing significant controversy.
Nevertheless, the Saracens’ fly-half made a significant return to the squad during the group stages, playing a crucial role in their recent matches, including their most recent game in Marseille last weekend.
Owens said: “The way that this is refereed – because what we don’t want is negative play, we don’t want players to be sticking their arms out everywhere to prevent a pass. That takes away, then, from what we want – a positive, attacking game of rugby.
“The referees will deal with this – if you’re going for the ball with one hand and you do gather it, then well done. But if you go with one hand, or you weren’t really in a position to attempt a genuine interception, to try and re-gather the possession of the ball, the referee will then feel…not necessarily that you deliberately knocked the ball on, but that there’s no way you were in a position to re-gather that ball. Hence, we deal with it the same as if you were deliberately knocking the ball on.
“For these instances, Aaron Smith and Owen Farrell, both of them – there was no way they were going to catch that ball. Which means: penalty and a yellow card.”
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NIGEL OWENS: MY TOP 5 CAPTAINS
#5. Chris Robshaw (England)
The flanker is a former English rugby union player who captained the national team from 2012 to 2015.
Known for his exceptional work rate and leadership skills, Robshaw was a dynamic flanker who made a significant impact on the field. He enjoyed a successful club career with Harlequins, where he played for over a decade. Robshaw’s dedication and commitment to the sport earned him numerous accolades and the respect of his peers.
Off the field, he is admired for his philanthropic efforts, using his platform to support various charitable causes.
Owens said: “Some people will be surprised at this one to start off. His misfortune was perhaps to be leading England during a difficult time, but he always gave everything for the cause, encouraging others to follow suit, and he was a nice guy off the pitch.”
