REVEALED: World Rugby prepares to APPEAL against Owen Farrell’s shocking postponement… and the England captain could be left out of Saturday’s game against Ireland
- The England captain was cleared in full after his red card against Wales
- It was expected that Farrell would be suspended before the start of the World Cup
Owen Farrell may be left off the England squad to face Ireland on Saturday in Dublin as World Rugby considers whether to appeal his shock adjournment by a court panel.
Mail Sport understands that national coach Steve Borthwick is considering a back line without Farrell for the World Cup warm-up against the number 1 Irishman at the Aviva Stadium.
England have spent time in training this week with George Ford at age 10, Manu Tuilagi in center and Joe Marchant in wider midfield.
Initially, it may have been planned for Farrell to either start as a fly-half again, as he did against Wales at Twickenham last Saturday, before his controversial dismissal, or at 12, with Ford in the primary playmaker position.
However, the storm around the skipper is such that Borthwick may have concluded it’s best if he isn’t involved, at least from kick-off. It is unclear at this stage whether Farrell will be named among the replacements, or left out altogether.
Owen Farrell was sent off for a high tackle on Taine Basham during England’s win over Wales
Farrell had been expected to miss a minimum of three matches at the World Cup, only for a disciplinary panel to shockly withdraw the red card in a three-hour hearing on Tuesday
Farrell (right) could be left out of Steve Borthwick’s squad (left) to face Ireland on Saturday
At least, if the coaches have any choice. Since Farrell evaded a suspension after facing a full Australian disciplinary panel on Tuesday, there has been global outcry over the leniency shown to him for a high tackle on Wales back-rower Taine Basham that saw him take the head of hit the ball carrier and left he cannot continue playing. And there could be another twist in the story that caused such a savage backlash.
Mail Sport has been informed that World Rugby has now received the panel’s full written verdict on the matter and has 48 hours to consider the detailed findings before deciding whether to appeal.
While the governing body’s official line is that no decision has yet been made while the report is reviewed, Irish rugby website The42.ie has claimed World Rugby will appeal.
If such a course of action is confirmed, it will cause further chaos and disruption, but also show that the authorities are concerned about any suggestion that justice has not been done.
A new hearing would have to be called hastily, as it seems inconceivable that Farrell could play any part in the game against Ireland pending further proceedings.
The state of turmoil means Ford is preparing as if he will play 10 against Ireland – and perhaps Argentina in England’s World Cup opening game in Marseille on September 9.
On Saturday he will try to unleash a dangerous rear with likely Tuilagi and Marchant in the centre, along with Elliot Daly, Anthony Watson and Freddie Steward in the rear. There’s a lot of predatory potential in those combinations, if Ford can detonate them.