#3. Owen Farrell
Jones said: “If we don’t have Owen then we lose a huge percentage of our fight. He’s the most energetic and one of the most committed rugby players I’ve ever seen,”
“We need that. But we also need someone who is also composed and speaks to the referee well. We need both.
“You know Owen is the third highest points scorer in rugby history? He’s one of the all-time greats of the game.
“He’s won every trophy in the world apart from the World Cup and he’s got a silver medal, which isn’t bad. Sometimes I don’t think he gets the credit he deserves.
“Some players have that likeness. When you’re a tough, gritty player like Owen, it’s harder to be liked. That’s the reality.
“He’s combative, he’s very focused about the game and he doesn’t open himself up a lot. That’s the reality. But he’s an icon of the game here.
“He’s resurrecting Saracens now – they’re back up playing fantastic rugby. We hope we get that Owen in with all that fighting spirit for next month.”
Owen Farrell facts:
- The Saracens star went to school with England teammate George Ford
- His education began in rugby league – he joined Wigan St Patricks at the age of eight
- He became the youngest ever player to appear in English professional rugby, making his debut aged 17 and 11 days. This record was later beaten by schoolmate Ford
- It’s well known that Owen is the son of Ireland head coach Andy Farrell. However, it’s less commonly know that his uncle Sean O’Loughlin is also a rugby league legend, winning 34 caps for Great Britain between 1993 and 2009
- He was not at first registered as a Farrell, but took mum Colleen’s family name of O’Loughlin. The couple married in 1995, changing Owen’s surname to Farrell the following year.