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#Post#: 115834--------------------------------------------------
O/T Saracens are right to back Owen Farrell as their marquee
player over Maro Itoje
DIR By: deadlyfrom5yardsout
Date: November 21, 2023, 2:49 am
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Mark McCall facing a dilemma over which of his emblematic
players to keep in what could be a hammer blow for the
Premiership
CHARLES RICHARDSON
RUGBY REPORTER
21 November 2023 • 8:00am
Charles Richardson
Saracens' Billy Vunipola, Maro Itoje and Owen Farrell look
dejected
Owen Farrell (right) and Maro Itoje have been key to Saracens’
domestic and European domination CREDIT: Action Images/Paul
Childs
Victims of their own success, in essence, Saracens have been
left with quite the conundrum. Sophie’s choice has metamorphosed
into Saracens’ choice: Will it be Owen Farrell or Maro Itoje who
remains in north London as the club’s marquee player?
How the saga plays out will be fascinating. In an ideal world,
Saracens would retain both of their superstars, but the reports
from recent days make that seem exceptionally unlikely. Mark
McCall, Saracens’ decorated director of rugby, has had the
luxury of having both players excluded from the cap. By the time
their current contracts end, however, only one player will be
allowed to be excluded. That leaves one facing a significant pay
cut to remain a Saracen, with Itoje the likelier of the two to
miss out.
It is a tight, tough call. Of course, both parties would like to
remain at the club to which they have given – and has given them
– so much. They are both emblems of Saracens’ dynasty, a period
of domestic and European domination. McCall’s predicament is
invidious but surely the correct call has been made.
Farrell is Saracens’ heartbeat, idolised by his team-mates and
club insiders when the exterior noise might not match. McCall is
often the first to publicly praise his captain’s performances in
post-match media duties. Everything at the club, who have
experienced bucket loads of success, revolves around him. Itoje
is, of course, as phenomenal a talent as anyone in the
Premiership but Saracens clearly believe that Farrell’s aura
sets him apart. Given the reluctance of both Saracens and
England to make Itoje captain, those intangible benefits surely
do make Farrell a more valuable commodity.
It is Farrell’s leadership that impresses McCall the most
“The team dragged us out of a sticky period, Owen was incredible
today, how he played, how he led,” were the words of McCall
after one Premiership victory last season – although he
regularly waxes lyrical of his captain. One gets the feeling, in
those words, that the final clause is the most apposite: how he
led. That is not to say that Itoje cannot or will not lead, but
clearly it is what Farrell brings to Saracens outside of the
fly-half jersey – qualities which have been exalted by England
coach Steve Borthwick, too – which is what impresses and
interests McCall the most.
It is not a situation that Saracens nor the Premiership wish to
find themselves in, as explained by Telegraph Sport columnist
Brian Moore, but it is the reality of life in a cash-strapped
league. If English rugby were a fully functioning, rational
beast, this issue would be moot. The Premiership – and the state
of rugby in this country – simply should not be in a situation
where one of its biggest names is forced out of the league for
reasons which are, plainly, out of his control.
Of course, there will be those who believe that Itoje should be
content with a pay cut, or who accuse him of greed, but he is a
player demanding only what he is worth.
The conundrum could represent a more existential problem for
English rugby, which has already seen a plethora of
internationals cross the Channel, sacrificing their ambitions
with the national team for greater job security in a thriving
league. If Itoje departs, and the Rugby Football Union remains
adamant that it will not pick overseas players, then where does
that leave the Premiership and its prestige?
The league’s executives have begun admirably rebuilding the
league’s image and appeal after its worst season in living
memory, but the departure of one of its superstars owing to the
Premiership’s own regulations would be a hammer blow.
Whether Itoje does leave remains to be seen. One thing is
certain, however; in Saracens’ choice, McCall was never going to
let his heartbeat go.
#Post#: 115835--------------------------------------------------
Re: O/T Saracens are right to back Owen Farrell as their marquee
player over Maro Itoje
DIR By: deadlyfrom5yardsout
Date: November 21, 2023, 2:49 am
---------------------------------------------------------
perhaps the levelling out of the playing field is in sight.....
#Post#: 115836--------------------------------------------------
Re: O/T Saracens are right to back Owen Farrell as their marquee
player over Maro Itoje
DIR By: deadlyfrom5yardsout
Date: November 21, 2023, 2:55 am
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England must introduce a ‘Giteau law’ to keep Maro Itoje
available if he moves to France
The lock's career at Saracens is in doubt after he was asked to
take a 50 per cent pay cut
BRIAN MOORE
20 November 2023 • 7:00am
Brian Moore
Maro Itoje - England must introduce a ‘Giteau law’ to keep Maro
Itoje available if he moves to France
Maro Itoje's situation puts a spotlight on the health of the
domestic game and its affect on the national team CREDIT:
Shutterstock/Teresa Suarez
The news that Maro Itoje is considering his future at Saracens,
with several French clubs ready to sign him, will reignite the
debate over whether the RFU should maintain the rule that you
have to play domestically if you want to play international
rugby.
Such discussion will bring forth the usual claims that you
should pick your best team irrespective of where they happen to
play their rugby. Some will claim this is a restraint of trade.
Others will say such rules are antiquated and that the market
should be allowed to take its course.
Some of these arguments have superficial merit, apart from the
restraint-of-trade claim which is simply wrong. What these vague
pronouncements about ‘freedom’ lack is any notion of how rugby
can deal with reality. They simply ignore the negative
consequences and risks that are associated with deregulation.
Rugby is a minority sport and, unlike the banks, where the
public had to step in to ensure their survival, there will be no
public clamour to save it if it all goes wrong. If you think
this hyperbolic, you haven’t seen the reality of domestic
rugby’s finances.
Maro Itoje
If there was a Giteau law for England Itoje would still be able
to play for his country CREDIT: Getty Images/Aurelien Meunier
The English Premiership clubs are still struggling with
borderline insolvency. They are in a constant fight for
tightening sponsorship and broadcast rights amid a competing
plethora of other sports and are dwarfed by football’s
monumental success. Anything that affects the sustainability of
the English professional game risks its implosion. In turn, that
compromises the sustainability of England’s international team.
As 85 per cent of the entire revenue of the RFU comes from
Twickenham internationals, this would threaten the grassroots,
women’s, schools and all other levels of rugby.
While there are reasons to be optimistic about the future of
English rugby, there are an equal number of genuine problems
which could have long-term, deleterious effects. In such a
context it is not good enough to blithely utter platitudinous
and theoretical points, you have to face issues as they are, not
pretend they don’t exist. The real issue here is about ensuring
that rugby remains viable in the medium and long term, and that
is by no means a certainty. There are too many people who
imagine income streams out of thin air but do not understand the
harsh commercial reality of rugby finances.
You cannot look at France and Ireland, where rugby is presently
flourishing, because we do not have the same advantages in
several ways. It is easier to exist in an area like south-west
France, where rugby is the dominant sport and grounds are
municipally owned. It is easier to keep your players when, as in
both countries, players are entitled to claim back tax at
anything up to 40 per cent when they retire. It should also be
noted that to qualify for this tax break they have to have been
based in that State prior to the year of their retirement.
France vs Ireland rugby
The domestic scenes in both Ireland and France are flourishing -
but England does not have the same advantages CREDIT: Getty
Images/David Rogers
Presently, only England qualification rules prevent a large
number of players seeking to play elsewhere and in particular
France and Japan. Those who advocate no restrictions must say
how they mean to deal with the potentially disastrous
consequences of a mass exodus of elite players. It is not good
enough to simply say we will deal with it if it happens. By that
time the damage will be done and who knows how deep it might be?
Abolitionists could point out that the RFU has already broken
its rule to accommodate players from clubs who went bankrupt
last season. First of all, they were very, very few in number
and as this only happened last year you cannot seriously argue
that this is the equivalent of a longer term, mass departure of
top-level players. Moreover, the reason of exceptional
circumstance was genuine; bankruptcy is about as extreme as you
can imagine.
All levels of the English game are inter-dependent and require
careful management to ensure each level is protected. This means
the RFU cannot be blind to the circumstance of players like
Itoje and their value in this circle of reliance and they might
have to look at a compromise that exists in other unions’ rules.
A relaxation of the rule, along the lines of Giteau’s law in
Australia, would not be unreasonable. A player can play abroad
and for Australia after gaining a minimum 30 Test caps; and/or
five seasons at Super Rugby level. That number of Tests is, for
me, too low. Its previous level of 60 caps, under which Itoje
would still qualify for England selection, is far preferable.
There can be small doubt that this issue will run. For English
rugby’s sake it is important that the right decisions are taken,
and the balance of the argument has to be in favour of the good
of the game as a whole, not the individual.
#Post#: 115838--------------------------------------------------
Re: O/T Saracens are right to back Owen Farrell as their marquee
player over Maro Itoje
DIR By: Marsile
Date: November 21, 2023, 3:19 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: deadlyfrom5yardsout link ---
>
> perhaps the levelling out of the playing field is in
sight.....
>
--- End Quote ---
Any England player that is developed by a club's academy should
be exempt from that club's salary cap. At a stroke, it
encourages clubs to develop their own English players. You could
also simultaneously slash the cap to disincentivise further the
temptations to import non-English players. It would also
dissuade dual-qualified English players to play for another
nation as doing that would exclude them from most Premiership
teams or at least severely cap their potential earnins.
#Post#: 115840--------------------------------------------------
Re: O/T Saracens are right to back Owen Farrell as their marquee
player over Maro Itoje
DIR By: Quinky
Date: November 21, 2023, 3:22 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Marsile link ---
>
>
>
> Any England player that is developed by a club's academy
should be exempt from that club's salary cap. At a stroke, it
encourages clubs to develop their own English players. You could
also simultaneously slash the cap to disincentivise further the
temptations to import non-English players. It would also
dissuade dual-qualified English players to play for another
nation as doing that would exclude them from most Premiership
teams or at least severely cap their potential earnins.
>
--- End Quote ---
Surely there should also be a clause where the club's owner can
give his players a house too? But that clause should only apply
to one club.
#Post#: 115842--------------------------------------------------
Re: O/T Saracens are right to back Owen Farrell as their marquee
player over Maro Itoje
DIR By: Marsile
Date: November 21, 2023, 3:26 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Quinky link ---
>
> Surely there should also be a clause where the club's owner
can give his players a house too? But that clause should only
apply to one club.
>
--- End Quote ---
Harlequins could learn a lot from the culture of Saracens. They
produce winners - in house. You only have to see how average
players who leave Saracens for other clubs become and conversely
how good they get when they join from other clubs. As long as
people like you keep thinking that it's just money that causes
that then the longer you won't understand and the longer
Saracens keep winning.
#Post#: 115843--------------------------------------------------
Re: O/T Saracens are right to back Owen Farrell as their marquee
player over Maro Itoje
DIR By: QNSno7
Date: November 21, 2023, 3:46 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Marsile link ---
>
>
>
> Harlequins could learn a lot from the culture of Saracens.
They produce winners - in house. You only have to see how
average players who leave Saracens for other clubs become and
conversely how good they get when they join from other clubs. As
long as people like you keep thinking that it's just money that
causes that then the longer you won't understand and the longer
Saracens keep winning.
>
--- End Quote ---
Quite right Marsile Quins were absolutely useless as cheats,
didn't even work in that one game. However, Saracens are world
class for years. very productive . Only one team were relegated
because they were constant cheats.
Speaking of Academy players, I'm more than happy who Quins have
advanced to first team. Sorry, but I don't know anything about
Saracens academy
#Post#: 115844--------------------------------------------------
Re: O/T Saracens are right to back Owen Farrell as their marquee
player over Maro Itoje
DIR By: Marsile
Date: November 21, 2023, 3:53 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: QNSno7 link ---
>
> Quite right Marsile Quins were absolutely useless as cheats,
didn't even work in that one game. However, Saracens are world
class for years. very productive . Only one team were relegated
because they were constant cheats.
>
> Speaking of Academy players, I'm more than happy who Quins
have advanced to first team. Sorry, but I don't know anything
about Saracens academy
>
--- End Quote ---
The Saracens academy players were the ones who handed Quins
their ar⁵es at the Stoop 3 days ago. Hope that helps.
#Post#: 115846--------------------------------------------------
Re: O/T Saracens are right to back Owen Farrell as their marquee
player over Maro Itoje
DIR By: never sleep
Date: November 21, 2023, 4:05 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Marsile link ---
>
>
>
> Any England player that is developed by a club's academy
should be exempt from that club's salary cap. At a stroke, it
encourages clubs to develop their own English players. You could
also simultaneously slash the cap to disincentivise further the
temptations to import non-English players. It would also
dissuade dual-qualified English players to play for another
nation as doing that would exclude them from most Premiership
teams or at least severely cap their potential earnins.
>
--- End Quote ---
The salary cap is to prevent clubs from overspending on players
and getting into financial difficulty. (I know it didn't work
for Wasps + Worcs, but . . . )
Saracens have lost over £10 million in their last 2 seasons and
are over £40 million in debt.
Getting rid of the salary cap so that you can pay millions to
Maro + George, etc, may not end well.
#Post#: 115847--------------------------------------------------
Re: O/T Saracens are right to back Owen Farrell as their marquee
player over Maro Itoje
DIR By: Yareet
Date: November 21, 2023, 4:09 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Marsile link ---
>
>
>
> Harlequins could learn a lot from the culture of Saracens.
They produce winners - in house. You only have to see how
average players who leave Saracens for other clubs become and
conversely how good they get when they join from other clubs. As
long as people like you keep thinking that it's just money that
causes that then the longer you won't understand and the longer
Saracens keep winning.
>
--- End Quote ---
I’ve stayed out of your spats with no dogs in the fight but:
Ben Earl seemed to do well at Bristol
Ashton did OK at Toulon
Spencer’s having a decent time at Bath
And please pay some respect to where Sarries’ success started.
The likes of Wigglesworth, Sanderson, Hodgson and Borthwick
weren’t produced in-house.
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