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England skipper Owen Farrell says the lost Rugby World Cup final is well behind him as he and his team warily eye a France side “capable of unlocking a game”.<\/p>\n
Farrell was captain in Japan last year when England beat New Zealand in the semi-finals but went down to South Africa in the final.<\/p>\n
Coach Eddie Jones said the 32-12 defeat by the Springboks had left a permanent “scar”, but Farrell gave it a more positive spin.<\/p>\n
“It’s not about the World Cup now,” Farrell said. “The World Cup is done. The only thing we can get after now is what’s coming up.<\/p>\n
“It’s about where this team’s going, that’s the exciting bit, not putting that (World Cup final loss) right.<\/p>\n
“It’s up to you to use it in the right way, no matter what the result…to move forward and get the best out of yourself.”<\/p>\n
Farrell added: “I find it weird sat here talking about the World Cup when we’ve got a huge game at the start of the Six Nations on Sunday.<\/p>\n
“The exciting bit is what’s in front of us. That starts on Sunday, a big start, everybody’s pouring all their efforts into preparing the best they can.”<\/p>\n
After a short break following the World Cup, England players were soon back at their respective clubs, in action in their domestic leagues and Europe.<\/p>\n
“It’s not like we’ve been sat at home on the couch since we’ve got home!” joked Farrell, one of five England players from Saracens, the crisis-hit English and European champions who will be relegated to England’s second tier at this season’s end over a salary cap scandal.<\/p>\n
“We’ve had quite a lot to focus on as players. And in an England context, it’s good to get back together, it’s exciting to see now where we can take this.<\/p>\n
“We had a chat when we first got together, each individual’s thoughts on the World Cup and reviewing it and putting a bit in action to go forward.<\/p>\n
“We love being here, in this environment. It’s an exciting tournament ahead of us.”<\/p>\n
– A new start –<\/p>\n
Farrell was full of praise for a France that seems to have been galvanised by the arrival of Fabien Galthie as head coach.<\/p>\n
“They beat us here two years ago in Paris and they were very close to being a World Cup semi-final,” the Saracens fly-half said.<\/p>\n
“They’ve got some outstanding players and it seems like a new start for them. It’s a big build up and something everyone’s going to get excited about in France with the World Cup being here next time around (in 2023).<\/p>\n
“As with all French teams, they have the ability to unlock a game at any time, no matter where you are on the field, no matter the time on the clock.”<\/p>\n
Farrell starts at inside centre at the Stade de France on Sunday, with George Ford at fly-half, in tandem as a proven double play-making pair.<\/p>\n
France will have Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack pulling the reins at half-back.<\/p>\n
“Dupont is electric, he makes stuff happen, sees things quickly and just goes to it,” Farrell said.<\/p>\n
“He doesn’t second guess himself, he’s very decisive and because of that he makes stuff happen.<\/p>\n
“Athletically, he’s good, strong, quick, tough, he gets stuck in, he doesn’t shy away from anything.”<\/p>\n
Ntamack, Farrell added, was “calmer, laid back, doesn’t get flustered by anything, but can make things happen, has the ability to beat people”.<\/p>\n
“They are the two key players in what they’re going to do in attack… we’re going to have to be engaged as a whole team not just in and around them when they’re attacking.”<\/p>\n
Also a threat, Farrell said, was Virimi Vakatawa, the French centre of Fijian heritage who was in scintillating form for Racing 92 as the Parisian club sailed into the quarter-finals of the European Champions Cup.<\/p>\n
“He’s someone who makes something happen, be it for himself, offloading or getting a ball away when it seems like most people can’t,” Farrell said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n