Six Nations 2014: It’s the crunch for England’s new man of mystery Owen Farrell

Fly-half used to be easy to read but his expanded game faces its biggest test against Johnny Sexton
21 February 2014

The emergence of Owen Farrell as a world-class fly-half reaches a critical point against Ireland at Twickenham tomorrow.

Farrell is up against outside-half Johnny Sexton, his room-mate on last summer’s Lions tour when the pecking order restricted the Englishman to a replacement appearance in the series-deciding Third Test.

While Farrell was the junior partner in Australia, his performances this season — most notably against France and Scotland — have proved the Saracens No10 is expanding his attacking game.

England are benefiting hugely from his evolution, which has been the result of Farrell’s work with skills coach Mike Catt and his father Andy, the England backs coach.

Instead of being easy to read, the 22-year-old is adding variation to his game. He no longer runs up in attack and defence with the same intensity every time and varying his speed has helped Farrell create opportunities to make breaks rather than just fire out long passes. He still retains the ability to spread the ball wide with bullet passes and his defence remains outstanding while his goal kicking is acknowledged as truly world class.

It’s a potent mix that Farrell is desperate to use against Sexton, whose defence is his one clear weakness. However, his other skills — including tactical kicking — are game changing and allied to his big-match experience, it gives him a perceived edge over his former room-mate.

Farrell said: “It’s good to target the No10 because it is forcing him to do more work and, hopefully, get him off his feet. You target people who control the game and people still run at me.

“Part of my game has always been taking people on and if the right decision is to show and go then I will take it. I just want to make an impact.”

Sexton, 28, has won 40 caps compared with the 21 Tests Farrell has managed for England and the difference in experience between the teams is a major factor in what could be an outstanding contest. The most obvious contrast comes at centre where Brian O’Driscoll, 35, will equal the world record for caps tomorrow on his 139th appearance while opposite number Luther Burrell, 26, will play only this third Test.

Up front, Irish captain Paul O’Connell is 34 and has played 89 times compared with England lock Courtney Lawes who is 10 years younger and has 27 caps. At No8, Ireland’s Jamie Heaslip is 30 and a veteran of 62 caps while 21-year-old Billy Vunipola has just seven.

England, like Farrell, are a team learning on the hoof while Ireland are a squad based squarely on players who are at the other end of their Test careers and in O’Driscoll’s case about to retire. He has agreed to one more season to help new Ireland coach Joe Schmidt ease himself into the job with the pair having enjoyed success together at Leinster.

Wins over Scotland and Wales have given Ireland the chance to clinch the Triple Crown tomorrow while the Grand Slam is also on offer, although they have to travel to Paris to face France in their final match. What has marked Ireland out this season is their adaptability; they are no longer a one-trick pony. The choke tackle — where they force a turnover by keeping the ball carrier off the ground — is still a potent weapon but they have enjoyed more success with the driving maul which destroyed Wales 26-3 in Dublin.

The back line is adept at exploiting attacking opportunities with Sexton’s boot helping to turn the screw by keeping opponents deep in their own half.

Normally, England would respond by attacking the Ireland scrum which they did with success while recording home and away wins in the last two seasons. However, tight-head Dan Cole has a bulging disc in his neck and is out for at least three months, leaving serious questions over the England scrum as replacement David Wilson has just 47 minutes of rugby in his legs since recovering from a calf injury.

Ireland will target Wilson with Lions prop Cian Healy relishing the chance to test the England player’s fitness and if the Bath prop buckles, the home cause will be severely undermined. With the only cover being young Henry Thomas, who has four replacement caps, England must get at least 60 minutes out of Wilson to provide the kind of platform Farrell will need to bring his improved game to the party.

England have a line-out to worry the Irish and will compete fiercely for the loose ball while Vunipola has a ball carrying power Heaslip and co cannot match. However, blind-side flanker Peter O’Mahony has been the heart-beat of Ireland’s pack this season and will relish the physical challenge posed by Vunipola.

Life of Brian: The best of O'Driscoll

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Outside the warring packs, England’s backs have pace to burn but they have to find a way through centres O’Driscoll and Gordon D’Arcy and that will mean exploiting Sexton’s weaker tackling. England want to go wide and allow wings Jack Nowell and Johnny May to use their pace but they must earn that right by first punching holes in the defence closer to the break down.

If Farrell can win his personal battle with Sexton then the ‘coming men’ will claim victory.

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