FARR TOO NICE
Owen slams team-mates after inspiring Sarries
OWEN FARRELL came to the rescue of Saracens’ eightmonth unbeaten record – then complained his all-conquering team were ‘too nice’.
England’s captain kicked 16 points and produced a moment of magic to turn a half-time deficit into a 22nd consecutive match without defeat.
But despite the Londoners moving four points clear at the top of their Champions Cup pool, Farrell was far from happy.
“The first half, we were too nice – it’s not what we are about,” he fumed. “We were more like our real selves in the second but at half-time we were frustrated. We hadn’t put a performance together.”
Farrell’s theme was picked up by boss Mark McCall who revealed a dissatisfaction within the ranks of the English champions.
“We’ve got a group that is very picky with incredibly high standards,” he said. “They are very ambitious.
“Today was about the result and getting it done, but overall. there is a discontent with some of what we are serving up. We’re doing okay but we want to be better than okay. There is more in us.”
Hardly music to the ears of the rest of Europe, that, given Sarries have won 21 and drawn one of t their matches s since snapping a s seven-game l losing streak on A April 1.
For the second w week in a row t they trailed Blues at half- time – second quarter tries by Rey LeeLo and Dan Fish delighting a near- capacity crowd.
The match turned on a piece of sublime skill from Farrell seconds before the visitors lost Will Skelton to the sin-bin on the hour.
Trapped on his own try-line with four defenders bearing down on him, Farrell somehow off-loaded out of the back of his hand and Alex Goode completed the great escape.
“Three of us looked at each other and said, ‘ Oh my God, what skill!” admitted Cardiff boss John Mulvihill. “He was off balance and if he was going to be turned over we would have won that ball – and he decides to flick the ball.
“I thought he had knocked it on but when we looked on the replay that was just awareness of what is around you.
“Players of that quality practice that stuff. But to come out and do that in a game just shows his ability, and what a great player he is.”
Cardiff had every reason to feel pig sick at falling away again.
Having failed to nail Farrell they were then unable to take advantage of Skelton’s yellow card two minutes later.
Instead it was Sarries who extended their lead through Farrell’s boot, before Jamie George put the cherry on the cake with a late try.