The goal-kicking advice Jonny Wilkinson has given Owen Farrell
England skipper Owen Farrell has been working with Jonny Wilkinson to reverse the goal-kicking slump that has affected him throughout the Guinness Six Nations. Farrell has completed only seven of his 15 shots at goal across the first three rounds of England’s campaign, a success rate of just 47 per cent.
The red rose captain was most wayward in the 20-10 victory over Wales when he landed only two out of six attempts. Since the visit to Cardiff, Farrell has been working with England kicking guru Wilkinson, the star of the nation’s 2003 World Cup triumph.
“Half of it is overthinking, so it is about trying to take it back. I obviously know how to kick,” Farrell said. “I have hit some where I have missed but have been happy with how I have hit them. I have hit some where I have been off.
“It’s trying not to overthink one or the other too much, trying not to fix everything and just to get back to kicking the ball as well as I can. It’s also having an attitude that irons them all out - a whole view of it so that you don’t overly pick at little things, which is probably what I have been doing.
“But I have been in this situation before and I’m sure I will again at some point, so it’s making sure I get back to enjoying my kicks. Part of the answer is trying not to work every single kick out and bounce around from one thing to another. It’s just to kick.”
Latest Comments
It’s a good, timely wake up call for NZ Rugby (seem to be a few of them lately!) - sort out the bureaucratic nonsense at board level. We can’t expect to stay the number one option without keeping fans/players engaged. We’ve obviously been bleeding players to league for years but can’t let the floodgates open (although I think this headline is hyperbolic as it’s a result of a recent Warriors pathways system where they are tracking things more closely) Understand the need to focus boys on rugby if they’re at a proud rugby school too, don’t think it’s harsh at all re Barakat in Hamilton. Reward the committed players with squad positions. An elite 1st XV system in NZ has done more for league than they even realise, think it’s good to protect our game further.
Go to commentsDon’t pay a blind bit of notice to Lukie… he likes the sound of his own voice and is always looking for something controversial to say. He has been banging on about Leinster's defensive system all season like he knows something Jacques Nienebar doesn’t. Which is the reason why he didn’t apply for the job obviously
Go to comments