Timbo wrote:Banquo wrote:Scrumhead wrote:
Yep. This sums up my opinion on Farrell pretty well. However, I would say that he has shown a clear improvement in his running game (mainly at 12, but he also had a decent show-and-go yesterday) which suggests he has been working on that. If he could work on his tackling too, I would be reasonably happy with him at 12.
Well yes, he's improving, but suggests a low bar and high tolerance, given 'all' he needs to do, to be a decent 12 is develop his running game, vastly improve his defence...oh and his stilted passing especially left to right. Seriously, does any other player get such a luxury? 50 caps worth of improvement!!
Just as an aside, and this is a genuine question, not trying to point score or anything like that, but;
how do you reconcile your opinion on Farrell with the fact that no current or ex coach, current or ex player, ex team mate, current team mate, pundit, rival, opponent etc, etc seems to even remotely share it? I’ve never heard any of the above ever describe him as over rated or no good or average, or even much in the way of too many mild criticisms tbh. Even a while after they’ve stopped coaching or playing with/against him. Very few players you could say that about.
I really rate Farrel highly, and so I struggle with some of the stuff I read on here, so I’m genuinely curious about this.
Oh I agree, and find myself questioning my own sanity in the face of such overwhelming punditry. On the other hand, Stephen Jones of the ST is a fervent fan, and its not a bad rule of thumb to take the opposite view to him.
If you take a simple analysis of skills, where does he sit?
Running- has started to hit lines and see gaps, but not quick, no step or swerve I've ever seen
Tackling- almost literally hit and miss, front on tends to go high and miss; scrambling good. His positional play in defence internationally at 12 I say is poor, though it seems he has a misguided role to shoot out of line, so possibly working under daft instruction
Passing- he has a good long right to left pass; he struggles with timing instinctive short passes sometimes. Left to right passing can be a car crash; he grasses passes regularly that way.
Kicking from hand- consistent, but no great length in his kicking, line kicking very conservative; end over end v screw kick limits the range. He has shown good vision and execution when grubbering.
Kicking from tee/restarts/dg- his kicking from tee is good to very good, but not top of the tree. His restarts are ok, no more; doesn't seem to have match winning drop goals in the locker.
Contact skills- good over the ball.
Other attributes
Temperament- loses it too often, heart over head is inappropriate a lot of the time
Decision Making/game management- not the best peripheral vision, but is a good closer of a game. In a limited game plan, given parity on ball quality and possession, a good man; chasing the game, lacks vision imo. But will follow instructions.
Attitude/heart- coaches will love this in training, and on the park as above. You can't fault workrate and effort, even if a little of 'all wind no trousers'. I think this is what is meant by 'test match animal'
I'm trying to be objective, and maybe failing. But I think it shows he's someway short of being a maiden's prayer as a 'world class international back'. Its more than possible I'm entirely wrong, and indeed friends who I respect for their opinions on rugby rate Farrell highly. But I simply think his skills are below top international level, yet a whole array of people have him somewhere near the best in the world....might be a forwards thing though )
