Good news for Eddie as Farrell storms back

OWEN FARRELL gave England head coach Eddie Jones a welcome boost before the Autumn Internationals with a man of the match performance in his return to action with Saracens yesterday.

Farrell, playing his first game since being ruled out with a back injury after England’s third Test against Australia in June, master-minded Saracens’ stunning 31-23 victory over three-times champions Toulon in France in the first round of the Champions Cup.

Toulon had never lost in Europe’s top competition at Stade Felix Mayol but that 16-match run was smashed to smithereens by Farrell and his men.

Farrell bagged 16 points as Saracens began the defence of their title and Jones will also have been delighted by stand-out performances from Farrell’s fellow England internationals Mako and Billy Vunipola and Jamie George.

Farrell missed just one kick at goal and his 78th minute penalty sealed the victory when Toulon were within five points and crucially denied them a losing bonus point.

Head coach Mark McCall said: “It’s remarkable, to play the way he played. There was a passage in the second half that

lasted forever, we cleared and Owen was one of two people that made the tackle on Matthieu Bastareaud and it was incredible he had the stamina and fight to do that.”

Farrell was officially man of the match but Mako Vunipola put in an 80-minute shift of top scrummaging and brilliant handling in open play which had McCall purring he could play in midfield.

“It was an unbelievable performance – he could play alongside Brad (Baritt) in the centre. Some of the passing was really good,” said McCall.

Skipper Barritt reckoned the first half was the best passage of rugby he had been involved in nearly a decade at the club and a cupboard full of winners’ medals.

He said: “I think it was (the best). We speak a lot about momentum and we went through error free and had everyone connected in the play.

“Over the past couple of seasons we have thrived on doing something we haven’t and that was a huge motivating factor.

“To come here, to a place where Saracens or an away European team have not won before, that was a huge driving force for us.”

McCall’ added: “I can’t say enough about the players ablity to fight the way they did. When they scored their second try we had one in the sin bin and another in the casualty ward.”

More good news for injury-hit England was the successful return of Gloucester wing Jonny May yesterday.

May scored on his comeback in the Challenge Cup against Bayonne after nine months out with a knee injury. That helped set up a 47-27 away win for Gloucester and May said: “The try was a bit fortunate but perhaps I deserved some luck after a tough nine months.

“I was more pleased just to be back involved for the first time in a long time.”