Telegraph Sport – Now bring on the Boks
This is Owen Farrell’s England team now – the fly-half debate is over
Farrell is perhaps the most reliably polarising player England have ever possessed but against Fiji he delivered under maximum strain
THE TELEGRAPH SPORT SAYS Owen Farrell is drawn to decisive moments like a moth to a lantern. And so when mortal dread coursed through England with 13 minutes left, their poise knocked by two quickfire Fiji tries, the captain sensed his cue. One battering run by Maro Itoje set up Ben Earl to clear the ball from the back of the ruck and there, right on call, was Farrell, slipping into the pocket for a drop goal. Given the potential for this team to panic, to crumble under the Pacific Islanders’ surprise late bombardment, you could only admire the clarity of thought.
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