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Wasps coach Lee Blackett defended Owen Farrell after the Saracens player was sent off for a dangerous tackle in Saturday’s Premiership game.
Farrell was sent off when the Saracens fell in a surprise 28-18 loss to a much-changed Wasps team at Allianz Park.
The England captain charged at Wasps’ Charlie Atkinson in the 61st minute of the match, hitting the teenager in the face with his left shoulder, leaving referee Christopher Ridley with no choice but to produce a red card.
Owen Farrell received a red card for this dangerous tackle. If you are facing a ban, how long do you think it should be? pic.twitter.com/roDQvBDMK5
– SA Rugby Magazine (@SARugbymag) September 5, 2020
It’s not the first controversial incident Farrell has been involved in, as the midfielder escaped punishment for an equally dangerous unarmed tackle on Springbok center Andre Esterhuizen in 2018.
To Farrell’s credit, he apologized to Atkinson once the youngster could be removed from the field injured, but there will still be concerns about his tackling technique, which was developed in rugby league hard hitting school.
COLUMN: Farrell finally has to correct tackle technique
Speaking to the English media after the game, Wasps coach Blackett held nothing personally against Farrell for the tackle and confirmed Atkinson was fine.
Charlie [Atkinson] he’s up and talking. You know Owen, he’s physical, but he didn’t mean it, ” Blackett said.
“We know Owen is not that type of player, he plays at the limit, but he never really goes beyond that limit. He was a bit wrong about that.
Farrell is likely to face a lengthy tackle penalty, meaning he will miss the Saracens’ European Cup quarterfinals against Leinster in two weeks.
However, Saracens rugby director Mark McCall said the club could get by without its playmaker talisman.
‘I saw it [Farrell’s tackle] live but I haven’t seen it on video, ” McCall said. “ He was chasing his own kick and he was desperate to make a tackle and clearly got it wrong and got his red card.
‘It is what it is. He could easily have been out of Leinster’s game for another reason, injury or whatever.
“We have a lot of good endorsements at the club so we’ll just reorganize our bottom line a bit and move on.”
WATCH: Farrell’s Misdemeanors
Photo: Getty Images
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