Farrell: Arundell’s pace has echoes of Robinson

Owen Farrell lavished praise on Henry Arundell yesterday after the 20-year-old was recalled to the England squad for Sunday’s visit of Italy in the Six Nations.

Arundell, the London Irish wunderkind with just three caps, is set to come off the bench at Twickenham.

Farrell has played with, against and watched his fair share of superstars and was fulsome in his praise when asked whether Arundell was someone who possessed genuine X factor.

England’s captain said that Arundell’s all-round package reminded him of one of English rugby’s most devastating strike-runners – in either code – Jason Robinson.

“He has [X factor], yeah, definitely,” Farrell said. “He’s got everything when it comes to a running game; people have speed, strength, can ride tackles, feet. And usually people have one – maybe two – of them, he’s got it all.

“You saw that unbelievable try he scored against Toulon [in the Challenge Cup] and you thought ‘brilliant’, but then he came on the Australia tour and he was doing that in training every other day. When he got the ball in his own 22 and he was against you, you were thinking: ‘Anything could happen here.’

“There are not too many people who do that, who put everyone on the edge of their seat when they get the ball. He is one. I don’t want to compare him to anyone but I remember growing up, watching Wigan, and then into rugby union, every time Jason Robinson got the ball, something would happen. I’m not comparing him, but he’s got a bit of that about him, Henry.”

Even though Farrell stopped short of a direct comparison, if Arundell can come anywhere near emulating the achievements of Robinson – a World Cup, a Premiership and almost 100 caps for England across both codes of the sport – then England have a stick of rugby dynamite on their hands. Steve Borthwick’s side struggled for wide penetration against Scotland last Saturday – an observation laid bare and hammered home by the tremendous two-try display of opposing wing Duhan van der Merwe – and the head coach has clearly sought to rectify that immediately.

Arundell’s swift development could continue in earnest as soon as Sunday against Italy. Although the London Irish back was officially recalled to the squad only last Sunday after the defeat by Scotland, he had been in and around the England squad towards the back end of last week.