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Farrell proving endgame in England ‘matters to him’... as Sarries grandmaster batters Quins
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SARACENS boss Mark Mccall reckons Owen Farrell is in the form of his life after marking his 250th club appearance with this statement win.
Farrell (right) scored 12 points from the boot, and overshadowed Marcus Smith in the battle of the 10s, on his landmark day.
He was the centre of attention from the off when he led Saracens out with his children Tommy and Freddie before the game – and he stayed centre stage throughout.
Farrell is heading to France when this season finishes – and so heading entirely out of England reckoning as things stand.
But the fly-half looked bang on the money here after his decision to step back from Test rugby as Saracens ran in eight tries in humiliating their London rivals. Hooker Theo Dan and wing Sean Maitland both nabbed doubles as Saracens issued a warning to the rest of the Premiership and jumped up to second place.
And they can look forward to a top-of-the-table clash this coming week when they head to Northampton on Friday.
Mccall revealed that
Farrell had received a special presentation from a muscular dystrophy charity,
Joining Jack, after the game – and insisted that the 32-year-old is playing better than ever.
Mccall said: “He played as good as I have seen him play for a very long time. It looked like it mattered to him today and I think he is going to be like that for the rest of the season.
“The players wanted to make it a special week because they think so highly of him. There was a lovely moment in the changing room when Jack from the charity presented him with his commemorative shirt – it was very emotional.”
Elliot Daly turned in an off-thescale performance at full-back, running things at the back and showing his eye for a gap, with a hand in five of the tries in this landslide.
Daly was up and down in the Six Nations, where he played on the wing, but here he was imperious, ruling defensively and showing all of his pace.
Saracens had the bonus point in the bag after just 26 minutes when Maitland scored his second try following Daly’s outrageous pass through his legs.
Maitland had work to do but got round two defenders and Harlequins looked out on their feet. They had lost captain Stephan Lewies to the sin bin, which effectively cost them 12 points, and Saracens kept the heat turned up in the second half.
They had led 24-0 at the break, which was soon turned into 31-0 when hooker Dan scored his second. Saracens ran in three more tries, showing their ruthlessness even when the game was won.
Quins head coach Danny Wilson admitted: “We got burned today – our defence was really poor. This game can remind you if you are slightly off you are in trouble and we were more than slightly off today.
“Saracens got on the front foot and we couldn’t – and at half-time we were chasing the game. When you do that and you overplay, then you are in a world of trouble.”
SARACENS: Tries: Lewington, Dan (2), Maitland (2), Cinti, Gonzalez, Goode; Cons: Farrell (6)
HARLEQUINS: Try: Dombrandt;
Con: Smith