Farrell seeks happy ending to latest All Black ‘movie’
‘Warrior’ leader hopes working with former stars can pave way to upset win
The making of Owen Farrell as a leader of England faces its greatest test to date as a rested, confident, in-form New Zealand arrive at Twickenham.
The All Blacks’ captain Kieran Read has won two World Cups. Their stand-off Beauden Barrett has been voted the world’s best player in each of the last two years. There was not a hint of a quibble in the last few days when England’s head coach Eddie Jones and several of his players repeatedly described their imminent opponents as the “benchmark” in the global game. Farrell and friends will be measuring themselves against the highest standards.
“He’s definitely a warrior,” said Jones as he compared his recently-appointed co-captain Farrell with the former All Black skipper, Richie Mccaw. But Jones has also engaged some high-calibre camp followers. Will Carling, a triple Grand Slam captain who also led England to beat the All Blacks in 1993, has talked to the present-day squad twice this week. Jonny Wilkinson, whose drop goal sealed the one thing Carling missed, a win in a World Cup final, has been with Farrell too, working on his kicking.
“These people that are coming in, you chat about things and you bounce things off them, about what you’re thinking,” Farrell said yesterday. “[They are] conversations which get you somewhere quickly, because everyone is pretty open and honest about what we are doing. Will is trying to feel his way into it. A man of his experience who has won a lot, it’s good to take bits from him.”
Off the back of a very tight 12-11 win over South Africa, in which England staggeringly spent not a single second in the Springboks’ 22 in the first half, Farrell’s team now face opponents who have won 14 of the last 15 meetings between the countries and lack only flanker Sam Cane and prop Joe Moody from arguably their first-choice line-up.
I witnessed the speed and skills levels of New Zealand’s five-try shredding of Australia in person in Yokohama two weeks ago and it prompted the thought the All Blacks’ attack may be the best the sport has ever seen. In a couple of recent matches they have not bothered to kick so as to hone other patterns. Even more daunting is the possibility of greater rugby to come from Barrett and Rieko Ioane and Sonny Bill Williams and the rest, although there is a theory ahead of today’s first joust with England in four long years that the tourists may keep some of their powder dry for next year’s World Cup.
None of this needs to prey on England’s minds. Jones, whose five wins and six losses against New Zealand as Australia coach took place more than a decade ago, says this match has no relevance to the World Cup, which will be a prop to lean on if the All Blacks make it an incredible 13th Test running of scoring at least four tries. But it is fairly legitimate, as England are missing halfa-dozen top forwards, including the Vunipola brothers and their carrying prowess.
England have a new rush defence, which Harlequins’ skills coach Nick Evans, the former All Black stand-off, has identified as focussing on the man, whereas before the ball was the priority. If England’s scrum and line-out can earn a couple of metres’ grace, maybe Jonny May and the returning Chris Ashton can be unleashed, both out wide and through the midfield. The kicking of Ben Youngs and Farrell and whoever comes off the bench must be ultra-accurate. The All Blacks do leave gaps if their front-five forwards can be isolated. Perhaps England will summon the spirit of Carling’s back row of 25 years ago – Tim Rodber, Ben Clarke and Dean Richards. The recalled Sam Underhill is closer to a specialist openside than any of those three.
Jones is urging his men to behave like the directors of a film and not wait until the end credits of defeat are rolling. “That’s what happens when you play New Zealand sometimes,” said Jones. “You sit there, eat popcorn, have a can of Pepsi and watch the movie, and you think ‘they’re the best team in the world, we can’t compete against them’. But they’ve got weaknesses and we’ve got an opportunity to get at them. We want to make the movie.”
“They are conversations which get you somewhere quickly because everyone is open and honest about what we are doing”
OWEN FARRELL