Owen Farrell will be available for England’s Six Nations opener after the Rugby Football Union (RFU) handed him a four-match ban for a dangerous, high tackle in the Premiership match between Saracens and Gloucester.
But the good news for England coach Steve Borthwick that Farrell will be available for the match against Scotland on February 4 has been offset by bad news on the injury front as Sale flanker Tom Curry is set to miss the two games.
Curry, who has won 45 caps and skippered England for the first time in last season’s Six Nations opener against Scotland, was hurt during Sale’s Gallagher Premiership victory over Harlequins on Sunday.
England head coach Borthwick is already without Exeter hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie for at least the start of the tournament after he suffered an ankle injury last weekend.
England kick off their campaign at home to Scotland on February 4 – Borthwick’s first game in charge – before hosting Italy eight days later.
(Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)
Farrell escaped any on-pitch punishment in last Friday’s match after his shoulder made contact with the jaw of Jack Clement but he was then later cited for “dangerous tackling”.
The television match official (TMO) brought the incident to the attention of the referee, who ruled it had taken place too far back in play for any action to be taken at the time.
Farrell went on to land a match-winning drop goal in the final minute of the game.
On Monday, however, the RFU announced that Farrell had been cited for “dangerous tackling”, and the hearing was held on Tuesday evening.
“Farrell accepted foul play but challenged that it met the red card threshold, however, the panel upheld the charge and Farrell received a four match ban,” the RFU said in a statement on Wednesday.
The RFU added that the four-match ban will be reduced to a three-week ban if Farrell completes the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme.
The three-week ban means he will miss two European and one Premiership match for Saracens but frees him to play for England against Scotland on February 4 and Italy on February 12, both at Twickenham.
In September 2020, Farrell was red carded and banned for 10 weeks, then cut to five, for a “reckless and totally unacceptable” high tackle on Wasps’ then-18-year-old Charlie Atkinson.
He also served a two-game ban for a high tackle in 2016, long before the current protocols on tackle height were introduced.
Farrell, who has been in brilliant form at five-eighth for table-topping Saracens this season, was a regular at inside centre for England under Eddie Jones, with Marcus Smith preferred at 10.
Smith has not played since November due to an ankle injury but is expected to return for Harlequins this weekend.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
It's a mystery. It's almost as if someone has assessed the two incidents and come to the conclusion that one was significantly worse than the other, reaching the same conclusion as every sentient human being who has seen the two incidents.
Mo
Guest
It’s not much of an adjustment for Farrell to hit 12 inches lower but why should he bother. He hasn’t changed his style.
Cassandra
Roar Rookie
Is that the one with the Venus de Farrell statue outside?
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
How does he go from a 10 week ban that was cut to 5 weeks for his previous citing down to 4 with a reduction to 3? He should have got 10 with no cut down but that would never happen in a WC year and with a 6 nations around the corner The RFU are looking almost as dodgy as the French.
HenryHoneyBalls
Guest
Just to play devils advocate Farrell has only received two yellow cards in international rugby. Just one was for a tackle v Australia in the world cup 2015. I dont think he has had a ban. That said I dont like his tackle technique as it is very impact or hit focussed which when he doesnt get it quite right can be dangerous. His focus is on hitting the attacker as hard as he possibly can which I know lots of people will disagree with but I never liked this side of the game. When I played the game it was more territory based now it is much more collision based which hasn't really improved the game at all in my view it has just made it less accessible and more dangerous. I think they are right to crack down on head collisions and 4 weeks is probably about right for this.
David Chamberlain
Guest
Serial offender. Shouldn't get discounts any more.
woodart
Roar Rookie
a bunch of fans were walking around twickenham looking for the farrell arms to have a pint. couldnt find it!
Tim J
Roar Rookie
:laughing: Someone needs to get Farrell the top, mind you he would not understand the meaning of it and pose in front of it with the same positioning and routines like does before he kicks at goal… :laughing:
Machooka
Roar Guru
I think I've mentioned this here before on the ROAR... but there was a delicious quip/ photo about Faz doing the rounds on socials awhile back. It was a photo of a young attractive women sitting in a plane wearing a sleeveless white 'T' that had emblazoned in bold red lettering on it... 'What does this top and Owen Farrell have in common? No arms!' :shocked:
Cassandra
Roar Rookie
I think this is a huge step forward for the judiciary with regards treating Farrell without fear and without favour. At least the bloke he tackled wasn't blamed this time.
Khun Phil
Roar Rookie
Strange headline - "Reckless and totally unacceptable",but in the story this actually refers to his tackle in 2020. Definitely should have got more for this serial offender.He has got away with more high tackles than he has been pinged for.
Butch
Guest
Farrell did yet another high one on a Wallaby at Twickenham in 2015 and many Aussies there were incredulous he didn’t get a red card. But from comments heard he had been doing it this way for a long time.
Tez
Roar Rookie
What a joke. A serial offender who has not learned from his past. How many times can a player complete the 'tackle school'? The RFU looks after its own again.
Englishbob
Guest
Don't think this was actually the worst tackle on the Farrell no-arms scale but given his previous I don't see how any reduction for a guilty plea (not sure we're contrition comes into it, the time to think about the poorness of the technique was prior not post tackle) or anything else could be applied in Fazs case. Seems like a stitch up so he could be selected for the CalcCup