'I never understood the vendetta against Farrell' - Saracens star lauded

Oft the villain on social media, England and Saracens star won rare praise on Twitter after putting in a masterful performance in the Challenge Cup against Cardiff this afternoon.

Sarries eventually got over the line with a 40-33 victory over the Welsh region and the England man was front and centre, pulling the strings for Mark McCall's side.

The flyhalf who has just regained fitness in recent weeks after months out with an ankle injury, caught the eye not least for some remarkable hand skills.

A subline try assist via an out-the-back door offload to winger Max Malins was the high point of the game for Farrell.

Popular content creator Squidge Rugby wrote: "Owen Farrell is an all-time great and it’s really boring when people pretend otherwise."

Rugby Youtuber Andrew Forde wrote: "I still don’t think I’ll ever truly understand the vendetta against Owen Farrell. He’s absolutely class and I think the only reason he isn’t rated as highly as he is, is because of his nationality."

The 30-year-old missed England's Guinness Six Nations campaign, where Harlequins' young gun Marcus Smith shone in his absence.

Yet in contrast to Farrell, it was a rather difficult weekend for the Quins playmaker, who missed a relatively easy conversion that would have bagged his side a Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final berth.

The mixed fortunes of the pair weren't missed on social either.

I’ll see your Marcus Smith and raise you an Owen Farrell…..class

— Matt Phillips (@MattTDphillips) April 17, 2022

The question for Eddie Jones heading into the summer series against Australia must surely now be: does he continue developing Smith as his starting 10 on tour, or does he bring in the veteran Farrell either at flyhalf or playing 12 outside Smith.

What is abundantly clear is that Farrell still has a huge amount to offer England, wherever he is picked to play.