O’Driscoll warning for Farrell

BRIAN O’DRISCOLL believes Owen Farrell needs to improve his tackling technique, after the England captain was involved in two controversial incidents during the November tests that could have seen him yellow carded.

England open their Six Nations campaign against Grand Slam champions Ireland in Dublin on February 2 and Farrell will be under the spotlight, having escaped censure for a no-arms shot on South Africa’s Andre Esterhuizen and a shoulder charge in the 37-18 win over Australia which saw Wallaby lock Izack Rodda halted just short of the try line.

Referee Angus Gardner has admitted he should have penalised Farrell in the South Africa match, which would have offered Springbok kicker Handre Pollard the chance to win the game for the visitors. However, England were able to celebrate a victory and then defeated Australia having avoided conceding a penalty try just before half time, which meant the teams went in tied 13-13.

O’Driscoll, at the Dubai Sevens as an ambassador for HSBC, said: ‘Owen has had two wake-up calls and maybe he will look at improving his technique but you won’t see any of the ferocity taken out of the collisions. Maybe Eddie Jones will have a quiet word with Owen. He wants to show he is a good defender and he made some illegal challenges in the November Tests and ran the risk of going to the bin twice.’