"Farrell, he's a Champions Cup animal" – Martin Bayfield: Former England lock excited for Owen Farrell v Marcus Smith in Champions Cup opening round
12/04/2024 07:19 AM
The countdown to the 2024/25 Investec Champions Cup is on with the first round of action kicking off this weekend.One of the most anticipated moments in the opening round is the incoming showdown between Marcus Smith and Owen Farrell as Harlequins take on Racing 92.
"That will be amazing.” Former England lock and Premier Sports pundit Martin Bayfield enthuses. "You think back to iconic Champions Cup moments, like when Farrell missed that drop goal against Toulon and Jonny Wilkinson gave him a pat on the back. Those are the memories that stick. Farrell, he's a Champions Cup animal, a true driver of teams. And Marcus Smith is getting better and better.”
Bayfield sees the Champions Cup as a proving ground for England's fly-half contenders ahead of the 2025 Six Nations. “He’s (Marcus Smith) great. if you look him under England for Steve Borthwick, you can see Marcus Smith and Fin Smith and now, that he is fit again. George Ford, are all going to be performing. And he (Steve Borthwick) can sit back and say, ‘right, show me what you got.
“For Fin Smith, this competition last year was the making of him, and it was the making of Northampton as well. Because they didn’t start a premiership campaign particularly well last year. And then they had this incredible run through the Champions Cup and carried that , and that got him over the line to win the Premiership title. But it was when we looked and we saw Fin Smith, and we thought, ‘This guy can play’. And not only can he kick goals, but he can control the game, and he can put the big bang in his tackle. That’s what you want. You also got to see players get injured, see players form drop away. It’s attritional, it’s always tough, it really is.”
Bayfield's analysis of the English Premiership clubs' prospects is both insightful and cautious. The former Leicester Tigers man believes that Northampton Saints could suffer with so many top talents in the England set-up. Phil Dowson’s side contributes more players to Steve Borthwick’s squad that any other, with the 2025 Six Nations set to see the likes of Tommy Freeman, George Furbank, Fin Smith, Ollie Sleightholm and an injury recovered Alex Mitchell, yo-yo between the green, black and gold of Franklin’s Gardens and the white shirt of their country.
"Northampton Saints, for example, they've got the talent but face challenges. I don't see them getting to a semi-final. Their European campaign might mirror their Premiership one, hot and cold. They're giving more players to England now, and that takes a toll. Players come back from international duty with a lull; it's tough to immediately hit those heights again. Injuries pile up. But let's not forget, they'll play phenomenal rugby. Franklin's Gardens will be rocking, but can they replicate last year's success (semi-final)? It'll be tough."
Turning to Saracens, Bayfield sees a team that knows what it takes to win on the European stage, albeit with an assortment of new cast members. "They're approaching a level they'll be happy with. They may not have the raw power they did when Will Skelton was there, but they're still a force.”
Turning his attention to the West Country, Bayfield added; “Bristol? They're fascinating. One week, they could score 40 points, the next, they could let in 50. That unpredictability is both thrilling and nerve-wracking. Bath, though, I'm really liking where they are. They've benefited from players like Ollie Lawrence and Ted Hill, players of international quality who are available week in, week out. Finn Russell brings brains to their operation.
“As for Harlequins, they're always capable of magic, but consistency can be an issue. Saracens, though, they've still got that muscle memory of what it takes to reach the latter stages."
On balancing the Premiership and Champions Cup, Bayfield acknowledges the challenges that the top sides are set to face, as both competitions progress to crunch time. "It's all about priorities. For an English club, winning the Gallagher Premiership might feel more pressing right now. But any team will want to start the Champions Cup strong.
“We've seen it before, get a win, maybe a draw with a bonus point, and you're in contention for the knockouts. But it's tough. If you're a Saracens, Bath, or Saints, juggling top-four Premiership ambitions and deep Champions Cup runs is a challenge. Meanwhile, the Irish provinces often have their domestic league sewn up, and the French teams can rotate players without losing too much momentum. English clubs don't have that luxury."
Bayfield believes that there's no tournament quite like the Champions Cup, with the newly announced Premier Sports pundit excited to cover the action of the pinnacle club rugby competition once again.
"I always look forward to it, the Champions Cup is special," he begins, his excitement evident. "It looks different, sounds different, feels different. Even though we're far more knowledgeable now, this competition still feels unique. Back in my era, you didn't play against Irish or Scottish players unless it was international rugby. So when you faced them, it was a total mystery. Now, with players crossing leagues and knowing each other so well, it adds an extra layer of intensity."
For Bayfield, this familiarity, combined with the competition's heritage, keeps the Champions Cup in a league of its own. "Working in rugby media has kept me young. It's kept me connected to the game and reminded me how special these players are. That's why I'm thrilled to be covering it again."
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