VIDEO: Owen Farrell returns with classic 'no arm' cheap shot
REACTION: Saracens Director of Rugby Mark McCall may have been ‘delighted’ with Owen Farrell’s performance in his comeback from injury, but a classic ‘no arm’ cheap shot did not escape the attention of pundits.
Farrell returned to action in Saracens’ 27-23 Premiership victory over Bristol Bears.
Sarries and England captain Farrell was making his first appearance for four months and he kicked 12 points before needing to come off for a head injury assessment in the closing stages at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
McCall said: “He [Farrell] was at the heart of it, he place-kicked very well, he ran the attack brilliantly and I thought he defended well during the game.
“I’m delighted with him and he’ll just get better from here. His best games will be ahead of him, but he was pretty good.
“We’re obviously really thrilled to get four points and a win from today, but not thrilled with the performance.
“I thought it was an exciting game, but not the kind of exciting game we want it to be or part of, to be honest.
“We were poor defensively today and a lot of credit to Bristol for the problems they caused us, but I thought we did show a lot of resilience in the game to keep coming back and score two important tries either side of half-time.
“With the ball, we were pretty good but without the ball, we weren’t so good.”
There was however criticism for Farrell after got away with a shoulder shot that many felt warranted a yellow card.
“Owen Farrell looked sharp, some lovely passing and brilliant kicking off the tee but his tackle technique continues to be appalling,” wrote journalist John Evely.
“Probably should have been yellow carded. In the modern game, he is a risk to his side because of it.”
No card for Owen Farrell! Are you having a laugh?
If this happened in the URC, people would go mental about standards of refs (some would threaten to join the Premiership 😜)
How Farrell has never seen red for these tackles is crazy pic.twitter.com/CLt3cheCfb
— Caolán (@CaolanSRugby00) March 26, 2022
Social media also exploded with criticism.
“No card for Owen Farrell! Are you having a laugh?” @CaolanSRugby00 asked
“If this happened in the URC, people would go mental about standards of refs (some would threaten to join the Premiership 😜)
“How Farrell has never seen red for these tackles is crazy”
@rodmac007 asked: “What has Owen Farrell got to do to be carded for a no arm tackle?”
@TimAlunWilliams added: It just baffles me that Owen Farrell, who is known for having a poor tackle technique, is given more leeway, not less leeway, for no-wrap tackles than other players.”
Sources: PA & RugbyPass
Owen Farrell looked sharp today, some lovely passing and brilliant kicking off the tee but his tackle technique continues to be appalling.
Probably should have been yellow carded today.
In the modern game he is a risk to his side because of it.
— John Evely (@JohnEvely_BPost) March 26, 2022
What has Owen Farrell got to do to be carded for a no arm tackle?
— Rhodri Mcatee (@rodmac007) March 26, 2022
It just baffles me that Owen Farrell, who is known for having a poor tackle technique, is given more leeway, not less leeway, for no-wrap tackles than other players.
— Tim Williams (@TimAlunWilliams) March 26, 2022
