UNCLE SLAM
Farrell gets all-clear despite brutal red-card challenge by Quill
OWEN FARRELL will be fit to lead England into their crucial World Cup clash with Argentina following the incident that saw the first red card of the tournament.
Farrell was poleaxed late on by USA flanker John Quill in England’s win here in Kobe yesterday and spent a couple of seconds motionless on the floor before springing to his feet to join a melee. There were concerns over whether
England’s captain should have undergone a concussion test but coach Eddie Jones insisted it was unnecessary.
He said: “We have all the medical staff looking for that out there. That’s what they get paid to do. He is fine. He is missing part of his nose, which is unfortunate. But he’s married, he’s got a young child, he’s not looking for any young lass in Kobe tonight so he’ll be OK.”
Although Farrell will skipper England against the Pumas a week tomorrow, they could lose Piers Francis to suspension.
Francis looks certain to be cited today for a high challenge on USA full-back Will Hooley in the opening minute. Jones said: “We play a tough physical game and we go out hitting people as hard as we can.
“We want to do it legally but players make mistakes. We leave it to the judiciary and then we will take whatever is handed out.”
The Northampton centre escaped sanction from referee Nic Berry of Australia but USA coach Gary Gold wants action taken. “If it was a shoulder to the head then it must be reviewed,” said Gold.
With World Rugby clamping down on contact with the head, Australia’s Reece Hodge was banned for three matches earlier in the tournament for an illegal tackle on Fiji’s Peceli Yato.
Hooley ended up being taken to hospital with concussion after a later tackle by Mark Wilson.