England 2024/25

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

But every environment he was in coaches and players alike rave about him, something doesn't really add up….

Big character, dad's a coach, all makes sense. I'm sure he's a dream to coach but not to play with.

It's also really rare to hear anything negative until he retires although a lot had come out since he left Sarries.

 

[Jimbo]

Big character, dad's a coach, all makes sense. I'm sure he's a dream to coach but not to play with.

It's also really rare to hear anything negative until he retires although a lot had come out since he left Sarries.

It has haven't seen or heard this? Can you point me in the direction of Sarries players opinions since he left?

 

[BPM]

I am no fan of Owen Farrell but I haven't seen any of this either TBH.

I can believe it, but my main issue with him was always the level of adulation and hype he got from the media despite being mostly very average which was never in his control. I can also imagine he will become an excellent coach.

Yep. The coaches are taking most of the kickings, but the on field leadership is AWOL.

And that's despite having a captain and 4 VCs!

 

[Jimbo]

I am no fan of Owen Farrell but I haven't seen any of this either TBH.

I can believe it, but my main issue with him was always the level of adulation and hype he got from the media despite being mostly very average which was never in his control. I can also imagine he will become an excellent coach.

And that's despite having a captain and 4 VCs!

I often felt he was a little under rated by many (over rated by others) but he certainly wasn't to my mind worthy of some of the world class talks he often got, he did do a job at 12 in a time where outside of Manu and pre Wales Tompkins we had few options. He always looked better at Sarries than he did for England, whilst I am not saying negativity about him post leaving Sarries hasn't come out id be slightly suprised given they had their most successful period with him without a doubt, it's also hard to gage with make shift A Goode or Tuilangi at 10 neither being brilliant certainly seemed to be a big drop off when he wasn't there but then they would often be missing a fair few of their other internationals at the same time.

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

Ultimately, I wouldn't take him into this English 23 at the mo

 

[Rugbyfan564]

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Wish we had a dick in the Ireland XV rn. Sometimes you need that.

I know we have a few pricks but the guy who is happy to dog on players to drive standards is priceless. Farrell was that guy for you from my viewing.

At a club level for example, if Leinster meet Sarries this year, I'd bet the first UK based member on the forum willing to accept that I'll travel to your town, watch your team play prem and buy you beers for the night (or if you want to come here, same deal and I'll cover flights from UK) if Sarries win with the otherside odds of you coming to Dublin and we watch a URC game, I'll sort the tickets and split the beers (this is genuine, if you want to take it up, lmk and I'll sort the Dub logistics for the first buyer, take a look at Dub hotel / airbnb prices too because it can be spenny!) Wouldn't have bet so recklessly with Farrell in the squad because he's the one English player who has that dawg that can drag a beaten team to the W.

 

[TommiG88]

Just read a Times report by Jones, Lawrence and Barnes….

Jones literally hates Marcus Smith. I think he must have caught him ******* on his grandmothers grave

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

Just read a Times report by Jones, Lawrence and Barnes….

Jones literally hates Marcus Smith. I think he must have caught him ******* on his grandmothers grave

It's genuinely really weird - he's been on it for years too. You can make a well constructed argument, which is the job, but literally every week he just attacks him

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I wonder if he genuinely believes what he says or if he's doing the old "controversy for clicks" approach?
Like does he even watch rugby? Or just watch compilations at the end of the season?

 

[BPM]

Well his suggestions are Ford, Fin or Charlie Atkinson at 10. Dingwall to start. Cokanasiga and Northmore to be more involved and Thacker on the bench. Brilliant.

Apparently 'there are few fly halves who could have got less out of the back division than Marcus'. Since Farrell has been unavailable he's ramped up his attacks on Smith to a new level. Very weird and even stranger that the Times give him the oxygen to spout his utter rubbish.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Atkinson, Cokanasiga and Thacker definitely suggests he gets all his rugby knowledge from highlight reels on youtube

 

[BPM]

Yet he dimisses Marcus Smith as a highlight reel player? Weirder that none of the others challenged him on any of his suggestions.

 

[Rugbyfan564]

He even blames him when talking about Slade and Lawrence.

 

[TommiG88]

Yet he dimisses Marcus Smith as a highlight reel player? Weirder that none of the others challenged him on any of his suggestions.

I was surprised, but I suspect they were all asked separately and their answers put together by the publisher.

Barnes was like the total opposite to Jones

 

[Rugbyfan564]

Wonder if they regret some of enhanced contracts already. Ford and Slade don't look like they would be missed that much if they went to France,

 

[Which Tyler]

Ford: different matter when actually fit.
Slade: also unfit, but never lived up to his potential internationally

 

[Rugbyfan564]

Ford: different matter when actually fit.
Slade: also unfit, but never lived up to his potential internationally

Slade's injury was a shoulder so it shouldn't really have affected his fitness to this extent. And he has got worse as the autumn has gone on not better.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

His cardio wasn't the issue his feel for the game and accuracy was - both things affected by not playing and being out for a long time with a shoulder injury so no ball-in-hand time during large parts of his recovery

 

[Jimbo]

Slade has always been a silky player but outside of a bit boot really has no standout out USP for international rugby