Owen Farrell fires up downbeat England with stirring World Cup rallying call
Not for the first time Owen Farrell came to the rescue of England at Twickenham.
This time it did not require him to add to his 1000-plus points for the national team he has served with distinction for a decade and more.
His worth was instead measured in the World Cup battlecry he delivered to lift the strangely muted mood on what was the biggest day in the rugby lives of many of his team mates.
“What a tournament we’re about to go and play in,” he declared. “What an opportunity we’ve got to bring the best out of ourselves and take it to the rest of the world.
“This tournament comes around every four years but you don’t want to waste one. The World Cup is fantastic, as good as it gets.”
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That it took the England captain to inject some excitement into the proceedings is an indication of how far England have fallen since getting within 80 minutes of lifting the trophy in 2019.
Defeat by Wales on Saturday was their third in a row and was slated by Sir Clive Woodward as “one of the poorest games I’ve ever seen England play”.
A team announcement dominated by questions about a player left out - former vice-captain Henry Slade - rather than any of those selected, did not help.
But Farrell, not always a natural orator, took hold of proceedings to not only whet the appetite for what lies in store but convince his team mates this need not be a mission impossible.
Henry Slade was the biggest casualty of selection (Alastair Grant/AP/REX/Shutterstock)“The opportunity for us is brilliant,” he said, even agreeing to take a selfie on the pitch with his squad in the background. "If we go in as favourites or go in under the radar, we'll use it to our advantage either way.
“Tournament rugby is a lot about pressure. It’s bigger than anything you usually play in. There’s more eyes, there’s more noise, outside noise especially.
“The big thing is focusing on what we can control and not let the other stuff creep in.
“At World Cups everyone thinks there’s a brilliant build up and then the best team are the favourites and it’s theirs to go and win. It doesn’t work like that. That’s not how sport works.
“Just look at the football World Cup when Argentina lost to Saudi Arabia [before going on to win the tournament]. Look at past Rugby World Cups where New Zealand have been so dominant and South Africa have ended up winning. It’s about dealing with what we have now. And that’s what we’re looking to do.”
England celebrate their stunning semi-final win over New Zealand in 2019 (Getty Images)England’s squad has been put together with a good deal of finger crossing. There is no depth at hooker, lock and number eight, where Borthwick cannot afford Jamie George, Maro Itoje and Billy Vunipola to get injured or sent-off.
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Yet he has has 16 of the squad which reached the final last time and England’s draw is as kind as you could possibly hope for.
"We believe this 33 has the right blend of experience and young, exciting talent,” Borthwick said. “Also the positional flexibility and playing combinations that we'll require throughout the tournament.
“Of course we’d want to be the best team in the world, ranked No1, the favourites going in. That’s what Ireland have right now.
“But that’s not our situation, so we’re going to work very hard and very smart to ensure we are tactically very astute and very physically uncompromising.”
England RWC squad
Forwards: Ollie Chessum (Leicester), Dan Cole (Leicester), Tom Curry (Sale), Theo Dan (Saracens), Ben Earl (Saracens), Ellis Genge (Bristol), Jamie George (Saracens), Maro Itoje (Saracens), Courtney Lawes (Northampton), Lewis Ludlam (Northampton), Joe Marler (Harlequins), George Martin (Leicester), David Ribbans (Toulon), Bevan Rodd (Sale), Kyle Sinckler (Bristol), Will Stuart (Bath), Billy Vunipola (Saracens), Jack Walker (Harlequins), Jack Willis (Toulouse).
Backs: Henry Arundell (Racing 92), Danny Care (Harlequins), Elliot Daly (Saracens), Owen Farrell (Saracens), George Ford (Sale), Ollie Lawrence (Bath), Max Malins (Bristol), Joe Marchant (Stade Francais), Marcus Smith (Harlequins), Freddie Steward (Leicester), Manu Tuilagi (Sale), Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester), Anthony Watson (unattached), Ben Youngs (Leicester).
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