Sir Clive Woodward has been left perplexed by England’s decisions to select Owen Farrell two weeks after the Saracens playmaker was knocked out cold in the Premiership.
Given the games current issues around head injuries, which includes an impending lawsuit against World Rugby, rushing back the skipper did seem a strange one for a game Eddie Jones’ men would have likely won with or without him.
“I’ve been championing Farrell to be both No 10 and captain but if he comes off concussed then rugby, and especially English rugby, will be left looking really poor,” wrote Woodward.
“Talking about concussion and player welfare is one thing. Taking tangible actions to show you are serious is another — and this was a high-profile opportunity to do just that.
“As a coach, I would have taken this into my own hands. The final decision is not down to the player nor doctor. No one would have any qualms if Farrell had been given another week’s rest.
“I think England can win the World Cup with Farrell or Marcus Smith in the No 10 position and this was the perfect opportunity to allow Smith to run the team from start to finish.”
Owen Farrell Concussion:
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Owen Farrell Facts:
- The Saracens star went to school with England teammate George Ford
- His education began in rugby league – he joined Wigan St Patricks at the age of eight
- He became the youngest ever player to appear in English professional rugby, making his debut aged 17 and 11 days. This record was later beaten by schoolmate Ford
- It’s well known that Owen is the son of Ireland head coach Andy Farrell. However, it’s less commonly know that his uncle Sean O’Loughlin is also a rugby league legend, winning 34 caps for Great Britain between 1993 and 2009
- He was not at first registered as a Farrell, but took mum Colleen’s family name of O’Loughlin. The couple married in 1995, changing Owen’s surname to Farrell the following year.
Sir Clive Woodward’s FOUR most talented players he’s ever seen
#4. Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland)
The former Ireland and British and Irish Lions Skipper Brian O’Driscoll was one of the most consistent performers in the world for over a decade.
He hung up his boots in 2014 after accumulating 133 caps for Ireland with a fantastic return of 245 points. In the emerald green, he triumphed in the Six Nations in 2009 (Grand Slam) and 2014 as well as being chosen as Player of the Tournament in 2006, 2007 and 2009.
The Dublin-born is also the highest all-time Irish record try scorer with an incredible 46 scores, and also led his country more times than any other player.
Woodward wrote: “In the Grand Slam game in 2003, we worked on a plan to man-mark him with three players, so the tackler was not exposed by O’Driscoll’s footwork and pace in a one-on-one situation.
“That’s how big a threat we believed he was – he needed three men to handle him. Ireland were going for a Grand Slam, but none of the players around Brian were in the same league.
“Whenever he had the ball we wanted one player opposite him and one man either side – it would usually be Wilkinson, Will Greenwood and Mike Tindall.”
Brian O’Driscoll facts:
- He is devoted to Manchester United and his boyhood hero was Mark Hughes
- O’Driscoll’s father, Frank, played two games for Ireland and an uncle, Barry, won four caps
- His final appearance for Leinster, and for any team, was in the 2014 Pro12 Grand Final on 31 May in Leinster’s home ground, the RDS in Dublin, in which Leinster defeated the Glasgow Warriors 34-12
- His most oft-quoted line was delivered at a press conference at Croke Park before an England match in 2009: “Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad.”
- O’Driscoll was chosen as Player of the Tournament in the 2006, 2007 and 2009 RBS Six Nations Championships.