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Barrington backing Farrell to inspire England to World Cup glory

Saracens prop Richard Barrington

Richard Barrington thinks Saracens team-mate Owen Farrell will emulate the great Jonny Wilkinson by inspiring England to Rugby World Cup glory in Japan.

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Farrell showed nerves of steel, as he has done so many times for club and country, by slotting over a late penalty to secure a series draw for the British and Irish Lions in New Zealand this month.

The versatile Farrell, who played at fly-half and centre against the All Blacks, has proved to be the man for the big stage on numerous occasions.

Sarries hooker Barrington believes the 25-year-old European Player of the Year could be lifting the Webb Ellis Cup in Japan in two years’ time, just as Wilkinson did after breaking Australian hearts with a drop-goal to settle the 2003 World Cup final.

Barrington told Omnisport: “When I play with Owen, especially when the atmosphere is hostile against French clubs and the likes of Munster, the boos from rival fans gee him up.

“He thrives on it and seems to use it in his favour. He is an unbelievable talent, one of the best I have ever played with no doubt.

“He is just so consistent and has developed into one of the best players in the world. He is a winner, a great character.

“I rate him so highly. Jonny Wilkinson obviously got that silverware everyone wants, the World Cup, but I think England will win it in Japan and Owen will have a big part to play.

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“He thrives on the pressure in the big games and he will stand up in the World Cup.”

Richard Barrington was speaking at the Betsafe sponsor launch event with Saracens. For more information, visit www.Betsafe.com

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J
JW 58 minutes ago
Leicester Fainga'anuku denied All Blacks eligibility for TRC

I don’t get that. I got the opposite, this was something Lester really really wanted to do. NZR is not going to stop him doing that by putting ridiculous money in front of him (noted you were only asking for fair money).


I wouldn’t say this was a Mo’unga or Frizell situation where there talent only was unlocked after they signed abroad, when Schmidt and Ryan came in respectively. LF was on a good trajectory, and he just decided he has the perfect window of opportunity to go abroad while he’s not first choice, learn and live in France to come back better and have a good shot at the perfect age. I think he recongised that.


Agreed that our rotation has been off the the last decade, players have not been moved on when they should, but I wouldn’t include Rieko in that discussion, though I would accept he is more of a marketing than performance signing.


Also agree it is a strange condunrum that results from the misalligned seasons, where Lester is straight into NPC in the same season almost. When really the ‘start’ of his contract is next year. Is he even going to be on the payroll at the moment? Could it be used as a double dip to encourage players back, a ‘bonus international season’ of match fees.


But they also don’t want them to become anymore common. So perhaps everything is fine? Like I was alluding to with Toko, they would need multiple markers of their own in Top 14 for them to be able to gauge off. As I’ve said in previous articles I’d be comfortable to expand sabbaticals to 2 in every position (yes a huge change), so that the was a core group of 30 of the top players all aligned with the ABs and overseas at any one time. This would ensure there are good markers to correlate levels of performance amongst everyone. This is a very similar setup/size to South Africa. It is like the AB modem in a wider organism, the vets are shipped off much earlier, and the core of next cycle is brought through. No missing out on the JGPs or Aki’s, no the Antonio’s or young Patrick Tuifua’s to france, keeping the Chandler Cunningham-South’s or Roots brothers, evan this Dubious guy from the French team was playing rugby here in NZ and could have stayed with a more ground up focus on bringing players through, not paying them much etc lol

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