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Sir Clive Woodward has tipped Owen Farrell to be an England all-time great
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He has been tipped as a future England and Lions captain
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Farrell is a likely starter for the British and Irish Lions later this year
Former England coach Sir Clive Woodward has heaped praise on Owen Farrell ahead of his 50th cap on Sunday against Italy.
“Farrell is already a world-class player, a cast-iron starter for the Lions this summer barring injury, but I believe he has the potential to become one of the all-time greats of English rugby, hopefully a World Cup winner – perhaps even as captain – and possibly the most capped player in England’s history,” Woodward wrote in The Mail on Sunday.
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“When I was lucky enough to work with Jonny Wilkinson I assumed he was a one-off and I would never see his like again, in English rugby anyway, in my lifetime. But the truth is Farrell is a long way down the road to emulating Jonny.
“His goal kicking and tackling are absolutely on a par – which is saying something – and his all-round play has matured massively over the last two to three years.
“They share the same flinty competitive edge and Farrell is beginning to also display the maturity and self-control Jonny showed in the fiercest of battles.
“They also display the same work ethic and focus on trying to achieve perfection. There are so many similarities.”