Gallagher Premiership Rugby: Jamie Roberts praises ‘special’ Owen Farrell, likens Saracens to Springboks

TNT Sports pundit and ex-Wales centre Jamie Roberts heaped praise on Owen Farrell after Saracens romped to a commanding 38-10 Gallagher Premiership Rugby victory over rivals Harlequins at the Twickenham Stoop.

After disappointing back-to-back defeats to start the campaign, Sarries now have four wins on the spin and have shot into the top three to leapfrog Quins.

While they remain four points adrift of leaders Sale Sharks, Roberts believes the defending champions are now the side to beat after a one-sided derby demolition few saw coming, and credited Farrell for the impact he’s made since returning from World Cup duty.

“Owen is special, he’s still doing it at 32, mightily impressive,” Roberts said on TNT Sports. “At the World Cup he was absolutely brilliant, and you get the boys back together with Saracens, these guys are the team to stop now in the Premiership.

“Anyone who appreciates a game of rugby appreciates the skill set of this guy, his ability to assess risk on the pitch. When to pass, when to kick, when to run, and he defines how well Saracens play.

“He’s got the skill set to match, he’s got the passing game, the kicking game, and he certainly has the defensive ability to cause any problems for club and country.

“But it all starts with the foundation of when to kick or pass and run the ball, which is what brings them arguably the whole game.”

In what is one of the Premiership’s fiercest rivalries, it was Saracens who dominated the latest chapter with a ruthless all-round display at The Stoop.

Quins led through a Marcus Smith penalty before Juan Martin Gonzalez powered over the line to give the visitors a deserved lead.

Sarries continued to come forward and made their pressure tell when Olly Hartley stretched for the line at the end of a brilliant move, before Jamie George touched down at the back of a maul to make it 19-3 at the break.

And it was another lineout maul that earned Saracens the bonus point at the start of the second period.

Any hopes of a Harlequins comeback were then completely extinguished by the brilliance of Alex Goode, who teed up Tom Parton and then Alex Lewington for two sublime tries that epitomised the quality on show from Saracens.

But it was a victory that was built on the foundation of defence. The hosts topped the table ahead of derby weekend thanks to no shortage of attacking brilliance through the likes of Marcus Smith and Tyrone Green, and while there were flashes of it on show, it was a threat that was largely nullified.

“The Saracens defence just looks so comfortable,” Roberts added. “They look like a team.

“Faz [Farrell] talked post-match about getting the boys back together, their culture is set on their determination and attitude to each other, and that starts with their defensive game, they were outstanding in their defence tonight.

“They hunt together, you can see this collective desire. Their pressure game is unbelievable.

“We've just seen the Springboks [South Africa] win the Rugby World Cup back-to-back because of the foundations of their game.

“The set-piece, pressure, their defensive game is better than anyone else and that's what sets Saracens apart.”

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