SIX NATIONS IS KICKED INTO TOUCH
Seismic Saracens saga dominates launch of the grand old tournament
OWEN FARRELL was wearing his England tracksuit and was on duty in his role as captain of the national team, but he knew there was only one talking point.
So, on the day of the official Six Nations launch in London, the fly-half didn’t even bother with a side-step. Before a question was asked by a huge media contingent, Farrell tackled — for the first time — the thorny subject of Saracens and the salary-cap breaches which have led to a points deduction, a heavy fine and relegation to the Championship.
Unprompted, Farrell — evidently well briefed about the agenda — said: ‘Just before we start, I want to address the Saracens situation. Obviously it is a disappointing place to be in, but the club will come back from where it is at the minute. I am not in position to comment any more.’
Of course, it couldn’t end there. The first question was whether he and his club-mates could possibly put to one side an issue that will have a major bearing on their careers over the next year or two to focus on the forthcoming championship.
Farrell said: ‘Eddie said the other day that we will bring it up and if we need to speak about it as a group, we will. For us as individuals and me personally, I am unbelievably excited to get into the England camp.’
In the circumstances, it is quite understandable that Farrell is enthused by what lies ahead over the next two months. The Six Nations should provide a useful distraction from the chaos, confusion and controversy he has left behind at Saracens.
He was asked if the divisive episode, which has provoked a backlash from other clubs — notably Exeter — could affect the cohesion and unity within the England squad. Farrell said: ‘I don’t know. When we get together, it will be clear, because we are very good at being honest and open about stuff, getting stuff out there and sorting things out if we need to. We will see if we need to.’
Saracens have been holding meetings with their players this week in a frantic attempt to sort out plans for next season, which are beginning to take shape. Farrell was non-committal, saying: ‘There’s ideas, but nothing set in stone. It’s still pretty soon. Everyone has come away with an idea, but we are not going to comment because nothing is sorted yet.’
Within hours of Farrell’s morning appearance in London’s Docklands, others at Saracens were commenting freely on the plans which are rapidly taking shape. It appears the fly-half and the rest of the club’s senior England contingent will be staying, rather than moving elsewhere to ensure exposure to top-level club rugby.
Amid the wreckage of their season and their reputation, the Saracens hierarchy are at least thinking clearly enough to formulate logical arrangements.
Some good can come of a very bad situation which has plunged the domestic game into turmoil. By indicating a willingness to pick established England players such as Farrell, Jamie George, the Vunipolas, Maro Itoje and Elliot Daly from the Championship, Eddie Jones has given Saracens negotiating leverage.
That core of leading men will play very few times for their club next season, perhaps occasionally in the Championship but also in marquee fixtures against Super Rugby sides. The upshot should be that they have partial sabbatior cals and are revitalised for their international commitments with England and the Lions.
Below this elite tier, the next category of Sarries players — those who need to maintain momentum in the quest for Test caps — will remain in the Premiership by moving elsewhere. Time will tell if other clubs agree to loan deals which mean the likes of Alex Lozowski, Ben Earl and Nick Isiekwe can leave temporarily but then return for the 2021-22 season, when Sarries will surely be in the top division again.
Given the calibre of academy graduates Manu Vunipola, Max Malins, Rotimi Segun and others, Saracens will make a swift return to the elite. That cause will be further aided if stalwarts such as captain Brad Barritt and full-back Alex Goode stick around.
All will be revealed soon. In fact, plenty was revealed last night, as Sky leaked details from the judgement — which Premiership Rugby announced they would publish — after the club dropped their opposition to that step towards transparency. Within days, the future for Saracens’ players is likely to be mapped out. This drawn-out and damaging drama will go on just as the Six Nations is trying to claim the spotlight, something it was unable to do yesterday.
Jones shut down the interrogation of Farrell, but there was no escaping the dominant subject, not even for the other countries.
Ireland have a new head coach, Andy Farrell, so he was asked about the storm his son finds himself at the heart of and said: ‘As a parent, it becomes a bit sensitive when you don’t know the full implications, or the answers to the questions, or the questions that haven’t been asked yet or answered. So it’s a bit up in the air, but all you can do as a parent is support and offer advice. I suppose he’s in a brilliant place today. He’s in international rugby, a different environment. He’s got a massive challenge and that’s all he’ll be thinking about — captaining his country.’
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend had to field questions about Saracens, as he has players there. His new captain Stuart Hogg now plays for Exeter, who have been the most vocal in their damnation of the cheating, as it denied them titles. Wales have a new head coach, too, Wayne Pivac. He has players at Saracens and would be in favour of them signing for one of the regions. France are England’s next opponents, so their new captain, Charles Ollivon, had his say on the hot topic as well. He downplayed any idea that it would make the visitors to Paris a week on Sunday more vulnerable, and warned that the Top 14 would be a tough option for any Saracens in search of a fresh start.
The salary- cap scandal has implications for many players and teams, coaches and countries. Its aftershocks are being felt as far away as South Africa and Australia, due to sudden speculation about the next move for Vincent Koch and Will Skelton.
Closer to home, it meant that a club saga gatecrashed a grand occasion in the Test calendar. The Six Nations will soon reclaim its perch but it will have to fight its way out of the shadow cast by the seismic events at Saracens.