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Matt Dawson Highlights An Area Of Sexton's Game He Feels Is Above Owen Farrell's

Matt Dawson Highlights An Area Of Sexton's Game He Feels Is Above Owen Farrell's
Colman Stanley
By Colman Stanley
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After beating Ronan O'Gara's record of the most points scored in Six Nations history, Johnny Sexton has moved further ahead of Owen Farrell in the debate over who is the better outhalf.

While Farrell does have youth on his side - he is six years younger than Sexton - he will have to improve areas of his game if he is to be mentioned alongside Ireland's no. 10.

After yesterday's Grand Slam decider, Matt Dawson - a former Grand Slam winner himself - discussed a part of Farrell and England's game which he feels is at a much higher level with Sexton and Ireland.

The difference between Farrell and Sexton is what happens when their team busts the line. When Ireland bust the line, Sexton gets himself into a position, whether he's having comms from the outside in, but there is this sort of surge of, oh my goodness me, we're gonna bust the line again or we're gonna score here.

When England bust the line, and they did a couple of times, I think Dombrandt had a run and Watson had one, and Tuilagi made a bust down the short side.

Johnny Sexton vs Owen Farrell

READ HERE: Jaco Peyper Had Enough Of Johnny Sexton's Complaints On The Ref Mic 

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"So you were like, oh, go on then here we go, and everything just slowed down to a snail's pace. Ireland got their defensive line up and, you know, yo've got to graft super hard to break that line again.

"As much as yes, we needed Farrell in 10, you're never gonna win trophies, you're never gonna win big games, if you've only got one ball player to rely on at 10.

"It's got to be Slade coming in, it's gotta be a winger coming in to take control and and give you an option, and England simply don't have that."

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Despite these flaws that Dawson feels are part of Farrell's game, he did win the internal battle for England's outhalf spot over Marcus Smith.

And with nothing but warm-up matches before September's World Cup, Farrell is still firmly in the driving seat to start for his country in France.

SEE ALSO: Johnny Sexton Gives Incredible Interview After Ending His Six Nations Career In Style

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