My beef with Owen Farrell is long standing. No one, including me, will deny that he is a fantastic player. Beyond that though is the manner and showing respect toward match officials. For too long he has chided match officials and rubbed them up the woong way. There is, of course, a 'duty' for the captain to represent the views of his side and 'call out' errors. My issue is that he 'calls out' every single decision that goes against him.It is like the little boy who cries "wolf". When there is an obviously incorrect decision, like Kolbe dropping onto one knee in the scrum, when Owen Farrell complains it is waved away. Andrew, you say that"controlling your mouth can be impossible", but you have to when playing at any level. With the professional and scruitinised game you are safe that the other officals and the TMO will pick up glaring errors. The Inconsistency of the officials nad that dreadful VAR 'thing' is one of the reasons that I now rarely watch football, that and the total lack of respect for officials.He certainly does not endear himeself to match officials who have, in the overwhelming majority, been excellent throughout the tournament.As an aside I am old enough to have witnessed Sir Bobby play for a number of times including two games at the 1966 World Cup, how he never scored in that dreadful 0-0 draw with Uruguay still baffles me. A complete footballer and a gentleman who probably earned less in his career than many of the 'stars' of today earn in a couple of weeks.
N V Brooks ● 1060d