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Clive Rose / Getty Images
Owen Farrell (R) of Saracens apologizes to Charlie Atkinson after being ejected after his shoulder struck the young Wasp’s face.
England captain Owen Farrell should receive a penalty of at least 10 weeks for his last dangerous tackle.
Serial offender Farrell de Sarcens faces the English Premiership judiciary after being sent off for a shocking tackle on Wasps player Charlie Atkinson.
Former England player Sandy Goode says it is precisely the kind of dangerous tackle the game is seeking to eradicate and that strong action must be taken.
But Farrell has a supporter in former WWE wrestling star John Layfield, known for his “clothesline from hell” finishing technique, which he thinks is just part of the rugby toughness.
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But Goode has written a strong column for Rugby pass condemning Farrell and demanding a heavy penalty.
Farrell is upright, out of control and flies with a swinging arm meant to get Charlie Atkinson in next week or cut off his head. It’s not just an untimely entrance, it’s a horrible-looking hit. It has taken him completely by surprise, ”wrote Goode.
Clive Rose / Getty Images
England captain Owen Farrell of Saracens trudges to the bench after being sent off for a high tackle against the Wasps.
“You can see it from every possible angle in terms of the incident itself and the regulations and the framework, but there is just no mitigation at all.
“Farrell is always trying to hit big hits and tackle high so he knows he’s treading a fine line. However, the player’s safety is the most important thing these days, and he’s more out of control than he’s in control when he’s tackling like this. “
Goode said Farrell’s position in the game as England captain should be irrelevant in deciding his punishment.
“It shouldn’t matter at all whether it’s Owen Farrell or whether he’s England captain when it comes to this week’s disciplinary hearing,” Goode wrote to Rugby pass.
“That goes both ways. It shouldn’t be an example just for who he is, but there should definitely be no special indulgence either.
“If the culprit was a Pacific Islander, there would definitely be people asking for and even hoping for the biggest ban possible. That is not good at all and it is important that all players are judged equally.
“The people making the decision will have to forget who he is and the incidents that people think he might have gotten away with in the past and see this as an isolated incident, but this is the exact tackle we want to remove from the game.
“If I’m honest, I think we will see a high-level penalty in the 16-week region and when that is reduced by 50 percent, we will see Farrell back in time for England games in the fall.”
Former England coach Sir Clive Woodward also condemned the tackle and predicted dire consequences for Farrell.
“The consequences are going to be considerable. If it is considered a mid-range offense that generally results in a six-week ban, that could be cut in half if guilty is admitted and her previous good record in terms of bans is taken into account, “Woodward wrote in her Daily mail column.
“But was it a mid-range offense? It was the most obvious high tackle red card you have ever seen.
“To me that seemed like an entry born out of frustration. It’s been a testing season for Farrell. There was the disappointment of how England failed to perform in the World Cup final and then the huge shock that the Saracens were fined and then sentenced to relegation for their wage cap violation.
“All that frustration poured into the tackle. Farrell has to get these tackles out of his system. Not only can they cost your team dearly, but as England captain you have to be better.
“The game is no longer willing to tolerate dangerous tackles as the England captain is about to discover.”
World Rugby / YouTube
England’s controversial No. 10 tackle that Owen Farrell used as an example of a shoulder charge.
Meanwhile, rugby fan Layfield, a 53-year-old American who is a 17-year-old former WWE champion in sporting and entertainment, was quick to defend Farrell.
“Owen Farrell is a great player who has never been accused of playing dirty, he made an aggressive mistake. They penalize him, the case is closed; it’s a tough sport and he’s a tough guy. And he would be welcome in WWE, ”Layfield tweeted.
Layfield, whose signature finishing move was a swinging arm dubbed “Hell’s Clothesline,” later got into a heated discussion online.
“Rugby players are tough, apparently a lot of aspiring rugby players on Twitter aren’t. Much crying about a high tackle that received a penalty.
“I see you appreciate a good clothesline! I also. Nobody on this chain, I just see so many crying over this and it’s not that important. It is a tough sport played by tough people and he was penalized. Owen came to Bermuda and supported our charity, good boy.
“He is a great competitor. I loved him against the All Blacks. “
