1) Immense leadership and "a sign of maturity" that he... referred to an ex-team-mate by their nickname.
2) Covers a shallow restart, allowing Aki to carry from deep.
3) Replacement OC stands in the OC channel in defence. This is obviously, real Test Match Animal stuff.
4) Scans the Aussie attack, and makes the wrong decision; gets screamed at by his winger, and realises the winger was right. Phrased as "Though not always obvious, such off-the-ball running is crucial in allowing a side to maintain width in their defence".
5) "keeps moving as Tom Wright ships the ball onto Harry Wilson".
6) "Wilson bulldozes through him, yet is brought down by Beirne".
7) Escapes from that ruck, and joins the defensive line in the position expected of someone escaping that ruck.
8) Meaning that Genge can make a tackle (seriously, Genge making a tackle is evidence that Farrell was key).
9) Misses a tackle on Suaali'i, but is 3rd man in once the tackle is made.
..............9a) A quote from Felix Jones "Don't tell me Owen Farrell missing the most tackles at a World Cup is a good thing" - but it's all okay if he chooses which tackles to miss...
10) Chases a clearance kick, but isn't fast enough to be effective. But at least he tracks back again afterwards.
11) Is one of many players calling a clear forward pass as being forward.
12) A bog-standard pull-back play at first receiver - as seen by every IC multiple times a match... and quote a few props. Russell then fixes 2 defenders, and puts in a brilliant pass for Kinghorn in space.
13) Passes to Kinghorn instead of Aki. Kinghorn and then Freeman do good things.
14) Picks up a messy pass off the floor - Absolutely fair, a decent bit of skill.
15) Stuart chooses not to pass to Farrell, and it's the right decision.
16) Joins a ruck, running in from quite a way away, as no-one closer had realised it might be lost - absolutely fair, good reading of the game there.
I've no actual problem with Farrell. I think 100 caps is beyond flattering for his skill levels, but accept that he's a coach and motivator on the playing field, and that England didn't have a huge number of options at IC (oh for Slade to have played there for his club). This does NOT mean that I think he's a bad player.
It's the level of praise (and condemnation) he receives that is orders of magnitude beyond what he's actually done.
Using someone's nickname
Standing where he's supposed to stand
Missing 2 out of 3 tackle attempts, but it's okay because he didn't just stand there feeling sorry for himself
Being slow chasing a kick, but it's okay because he didn't just stand there feeling sorry for himself
Making a pass you'd expect your THP to make 99 times out of 100
Existing whilst someone else does something
. He held the leg of Tizzano after, whilst on the ground.
