Farrell has been a giant of the English game for the past decade. Photo: Getty Images/David Rogers
Owen Farrell insisted on Tuesday that the Premier League semi-final against Northampton Saints would not define him or his other departing colleagues. His main conclusion was clear. He was not interested in talking about individual heritage, perhaps in part because it would require thinking about defeat.
The secondary, more poignant consequence was this: Farrell and the Vunipola brothers had already defined themselves over the last decade or more. The Saints weren't there yet, and the Saracens were going to ruin their party. What followed on Friday night was a performance that encapsulated much of what has made Farrell such a towering figure in English rugby union.
Northampton, the standout team of this premiership campaign to date, were worthy winners. Frankly, it would be a travesty if they couldn't match Twickenham. A dominant scrum helped them overcome a difficult situation in the second half. Prior to this, George Furbank had a great attempt at Burger Odendaal. The move showed what has differentiated the Saints this season. Phil Dawson's multifaceted ensemble now has a certain determination, both physical and mental, to keep things moving and spirited.
The fire of competition is all still burns brightly in Owen Farrell. Photo: Getty Images/Mark Atkins
Yet Saracens outclassed them by two tries to one and gave themselves one last charge to keep their title defense alive. Farrell was clearly hampered by an injury to his right thigh, which was heavily taped, and he ran the display during his final outing before heading to the Racing 92 for an exciting adventure in the Top 14.
The 32-year-old joined Jamie George, Theo Dan and Ben Earl in the lower part of the church stand before kick-off. George and Earl made it something of a ritual before Saracens and England games; a way to settle in and acclimate while the crowd grows around them. Farrell, it turned out, was only doing this because his hip prevented him from doing a normal warm-up.
After sitting near the pitch for about 20 minutes, all four were impressively accommodating when fans asked for their photos. This is one notable detail that can be noticed when watching Pharrell among fans. He is extremely generous with his time.
Pharrell's generosity towards fans is often overlooked. Photo: Getty Images/Mark Atkins
As the players entered the field and began to warm up, Farrell looked rather subdued. After a couple of wide turns with Joe Shaw, exchanging passes with the head coach, he kicked a couple of punts – only with his left foot.
Meanwhile, Elliot Daly and Alex Lozowski were getting shots on goal. Later, when Daly was halfway through resuming training, Farrell joined him – but apparently only to pass on advice. Farrell was more animated during the team's warm-up. However, when the game began, he initially avoided using his right boot. To his left, he found Juan Martin Gonzalez, who made a crossfield pass.
Afterwards, as Mark McCall explained how close his captain had come to losing, he was asked to sum up the influence of Farrell and the Vunipola brothers. He puffed out his cheeks and shrugged. Indeed, it was difficult to imagine a full-blooded playoffs without Farrell. His rare competitive edge was evident from the start, in the thundering tackle that forced George Fairbank's fumble.
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To put it mildly, this snarling commitment does not endear him to his rivals. In the 27th minute, when Farrell questioned referee Christophe Ridley about a penalty awarded by Fin Smith, Gers stepped up. Among the loudest cheers of the first period came from the Franklin's Gardens fans when Farrell passed in midfield.
Successive replays on the big screen brought two more cheers and added to the schadenfreude. This kind of needlepoint, often inspired by Pharrell, ignites passion and should be encouraged. At half-time, with Saints leading 16-6, Saracens looked lost. We should have known better.
Patient and determined, Farrell led 11 phases of Saracens' attack by the end of the third quarter. On the 12th he sold a dummy and bounced between Alex Waller and Tommy Freeman before slipping a grabber to Alex Lewington for a try. Even though their scrum and maul were splintered, and even though their back line was patched up, Saracens stayed close and fought hard. In the 68th minute, Farrell crossed Smith for another assist.
The return will take place!? 🧐@Saracens score in the corner and @elliotdaly adds extras 😅
They can't, can they?#GallagherPrem #NORvSAR pic.twitter.com/7CQN92tyj3
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) May 31, 2024
Smith, just 22, exudes poise and could become a symbol of Northampton's golden era. There are still many matches ahead for England. But his opponent refused to concede on Friday night, setting up a try from Lucio Cinti that gave Saracens another chance. Accordingly, Northampton's defense, which has strengthened markedly this season under Lee Radford, sealed the deal.
Was McCall justified in backing Farrell when the latter was limited by injury? It's a fair question and perhaps an allegory for how coaches have relied on Farrell over the years. However, the answer is yes. Even if Farrell failed to convince Saracens to reach the next final, he earned a good reputation after a fierce contest. It wasn't quite Cooper Cronk's 2018 NRL grand final win for the Sydney Roosters with a broken shoulder blade, but it was a remarkable feat filled with courage and no small amount of skill.
At the end, when Theo Dan was detained, Farrell stood motionless for a moment, as if letting the loss hit him. He unbuckled his belt from his hip, congratulated the winners and eventually walked around the field, waving goodbye and signing autographs.
The mutual respect was palpable and rich, which was gratifying. Saracens face an intriguing transition as the Premier League bids farewell to a special hero.
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