Former England coach Sir Clive Woodward has heaped praise on Owen Farrell ahead of his 50th cap on Sunday against Italy.
Farrell has established himself as a core member of England’s team over the last five years since his debut and has been tipped as a future England captain.
A likely starter for the British and Irish Lions later this year, World Cup-winning boss Woodward has now suggested that Farrell can go on to be regarded as one of England’s best-ever players.
“Farrell is already a world-class player, a cast-iron starter for the Lions this summer barring injury, but I believe he has the potential to become one of the all-time greats of English rugby, hopefully a World Cup winner – perhaps even as captain – and possibly the most capped player in England’s history,” Woodward wrote in The Mail on Sunday.
“When I was lucky enough to work with Jonny Wilkinson I assumed he was a one-off and I would never see his like again, in English rugby anyway, in my lifetime. But the truth is Farrell is a long way down the road to emulating Jonny.
“His goal kicking and tackling are absolutely on a par – which is saying something – and his all-round play has matured massively over the last two to three years.
“They share the same flinty competitive edge and Farrell is beginning to also display the maturity and self-control Jonny showed in the fiercest of battles.
“They also display the same work ethic and focus on trying to achieve perfection. There are so many similarities.”
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