‘Incredible’ Farrell outshines Cipriani as victory moves Saracens to the top of table
Mark Mccall hailed Owen Farrell after the Saracens playmaker won the battle of England’s stand-offs in a 38-15 mauling of Gloucester.
Farrell was superb as the champions claimed a fourth successive bonus-point win to secure top spot and he will now join Eddie Jones’ England training camp in Bristol.
Jones omitted Danny Cipriani from the 36-man party on the basis of form, even though he has been superb for Gloucester. It was a different story at Allianz Park, however, as Cipriani was reduced to a peripheral figure, playing behind a pack that had been bullied into submission.
“Owen was incredibly influential. It wasn’t just his skill set, it was the physical tone he set. Physically he was incredible,” Saracens director of rugby Mccall said. “If you listen to the ref mic, vocally he was off the charts. He’s just an incredible player who adds in every way. Not just in his kicking and passing, but emotionally and physically as well.”
Alan Solomons hailed his Worcester side after they stunned Leicester 44-37 at Welford Road to record their first Gallagher Premiership win of the season.
Solomons’ men looked in cruise control when they led 37-11 midway through the second half. However, the Tigers hit back to level in the 76th minute, only for 19-year-old debutant Ted Hill, having emerged from Worcester’s academy, to score in the corner and steal a win for the visitors.
Solomons said after the thriller: “It was absolutely unbelievable. There’s a never say die attitude about us and we knew it’s about fine margins. It was an incredible performance from the players. They deserved it.”