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Owen Farrell finally addresses his infamous eight-week-old red card
By PA
England out-half Owen Farrell has expressed his remorse for the dangerous tackle on Charlie Atkinson that left the Wasps teenager unconscious during a Gallagher Premiership match last month at Saracens.
Farrell will make his first appearance since his high challenge on Atkinson on September 5 when he leads England in Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations clash with Italy.
The 29-year-old fly-half was shown a red card and banned for five matches, forcing him to miss the knockout phase of Saracens’ Champions Cup campaign which began with a quarter-final win over Leinster and ended in agonising semi-final defeat at Racing 92.
Speaking to media for the first time since his early September sending-off and subsequent ban, Farrell said: “No-one wants to be involved in an incident like. Not for it to end up the way it did - a player getting injured and myself getting sent off.
“There was no real intent to do that. That was never what I was trying to do, but at the same time that is what happened and you have a good look at yourself when that happens.
“In terms of technique, yeah, I want to get better. More than anything I'm excited to play," he continued after England coach Eddie Jones gave him a vote of confidence to continue as captain and earn his 84th Test cap for his country in Rome.
“I have been working on everything, not just tackling technique, which I would work on anyway. The main thing is I can’t wait to get out on the field and get playing.
“I am doing everything I can to make sure I am in the best place I possibly can be for Italy. I am in a position now where I can’t wait to play and I am looking forward to it.”
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Latest Comments
Ben Smith you really make some good points in this article, the Springboks were not close to perfect and good still beat the All Blacks, imagine if they were as good as they were against France what a hiding the All Blacks would have gotten… maybe another Twickenham drubbing
Go to commentsIt is a good argument to keep the Rebels for one more year but also isnt this just opening the door as well for keeping them beyond 2025. If they can create some sort of financial stability in the next year and if their performances lift as they have this season then how would RA even cull them after that? It might be the most cost effective decision at this stage and perhaps many people are guilty of keeping relationships going because of the cost to decouple but then again when does that ever work out well?
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