Slightly later than expected, Owen Farrell will reach his Test century on Saturday but the personal landmark barely registers with the England captain. What matters to him is an old rivalry and a new partnership.
Having missed last weekend’s emphatic victory over Tonga due to a Covid scare, the 30-year-old will make his 100th international appearance when he lines up against Australia at Twickenham. But Farrell has no desire to make any fuss about his cap tally — so much so that he will wait in line while Maro Itoje takes to the field first to mark his 50th match for England.
‘That is an achievement we will celebrate,’ said the skipper. ‘I am looking forward to doing that.’
Owen Farrell (right) raved about his new sidekick Marcus Smith (left) before facing Australia
Farrell will bring up a century of England appearances against Australia at Twickenham
He is also looking forward to locking horns with foes who were familiar until the global pandemic kept them apart for two years. The last time England faced the Wallabies was at the 2019 World Cup, when their 40-16 quarter-final victory in Oita, Japan was the catalyst for recriminations and regime change Down Under.
It maintained an astonishing and unprecedented phase of English dominance over the old enemy from the far south. Since Eddie Jones took charge, his compatriots have been eclipsed — with seven Tests yielding seven England wins.
There can be no doubting the determination of Farrell and Co to extend this one-way traffic and the home captain said: ‘It’s always been a massive Test match — one you look forward to and love to be a part of. They’re a fantastic side and a fantastic sporting nation. There’s a fair amount of rivalry there. As a kid, I loved it when the Great Britain-Australia rugby league games came around. There were a fair few of them played in Wigan, where I grew up, so I got to plenty of them.’
Today’s England XV includes 11 of the players who started in Oita two years ago. One who wasn’t involved back then is Marcus Smith, the Harlequins fly half who is the new darling of the English rugby public. He will wear No 10 today and the anticipation which will be felt by the hordes at Twickenham is also felt by Farrell.
Farrell said fly-half Smith had been playing 'unbelievably well' and was flying in training
Smith had an impressive cameo when he came off the bench in last week's routing of Tonga
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