{"id":289519,"date":"2023-09-04T17:23:34","date_gmt":"2023-09-04T17:23:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports-life-news.com\/?p=289519"},"modified":"2023-09-04T17:23:34","modified_gmt":"2023-09-04T17:23:34","slug":"england-captain-owen-farrell-admits-he-is-gutted-to-be-banned","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports-life-news.com\/rugby-union\/england-captain-owen-farrell-admits-he-is-gutted-to-be-banned\/","title":{"rendered":"England captain Owen Farrell admits he is 'GUTTED' to be banned"},"content":{"rendered":"
England captain Owen Farrell revealed his pain at being banned for the start of the World Cup but has no arguments about his red card.<\/p>\n
The No 10 was sent off for a high tackle against Wales last month and is half-way through a four-match suspension.<\/p>\n
He will in the stands for the opening Pool C Tests against Argentina and Japan, with George Ford likely to take over at No10.<\/p>\n
\u2018I’m gutted not to be playing and I’m gutted not to be available,\u2019 said Farrell. \u2018Especially a big game like this at the weekend.<\/p>\n
\u2018I’ve even always wanted to play at Stade Velodrome, ever since watching the quarter-final in 2007.\u2019<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
England captain Owen Farrell has admitted he is ‘gutted’ at having to miss the start of the World Cup<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Farrell has been training with the squad but will miss the start of the tournament after being banned<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The No10 was sent off for a high tackle on Taine Basham during England’s win over Wales<\/p>\n
Farrell was banned after a calamitous disciplinary process that dragged on through two different hearings before an about-turn in the outcome.<\/p>\n
The red card was awarded via the new bunker officiating system and Farrell admitted the correct outcome was reached.<\/p>\n
\u2018I knew when it came on the big screen,\u2019 he admitted. \u2018It is what it is. I\u2019ve been banned, I accept that I\u2019ve been banned. Don\u2019t want to be in that situation again, I know that, but mistakes happen. I\u2019m gutted not to be playing but I\u2019m trying to do everything I can for this team.\u2019<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Steve Borthwick is looking to kickstart his journey as head coach during the competition<\/p>\n
While Farrell and Billy Vunipola are suspended, the remainder of England\u2019s 33-man squad all took part in yesterday\u2019s training session in the 30C heat of Le Touquet.<\/p>\n
After a disastrous summer of preparations, England have been written off by the bookmakers, with flanker Lewis Ludlam insisting they will relish their underdog status.<\/p>\n
\u2018We are obviously under pressure, but I think coming into a tournament as underdog is a beautiful position to be in,\u2019 said Ludlam. \u2018I can only speak personally and there are probably a lot of different feelings around the camp.<\/p>\n
\u2018With lower expectation, you can free yourself up more easily. You can express yourselves because nothing is given to you. Sometimes when you are No 1 and you have achieved things pre-tournament you can be reaching for that too much. When you are a little bit behind and your back’s up against a wall, you are a lot more present with things.\u00a0Personally I think it is a nice spot to be in. Obviously it would have been brilliant to be coming in off the back of three or four wins but the situation we find ourselves in I think we have got to enjoy that.\u2019<\/p>\n