Rugby Union: Farrell Through Baptism With Flying Try

It is a long way from East Molesey on a Monday night to next year's World Cup but at least Andy Farrell has embarked along the road. English rugby's most celebrated union novice even made a try-scoring start for Saracens in his long-awaited A team debut against Harlequins yesterday evening, prompting sighs of relief from Twickenham to Wigan.

Aside from his well taken 22nd minute try, which involved a deft one-handed catch and an unopposed dive into the left corner from close range, Farrell had a relatively quiet introduction to the 15-a-side code in front of the watching England defence coach Mike Ford before being substituted, to a warm reception, after 65 minutes of his side's eventual 30-12 loss.

The 31-year-old, sporting a mean crew-cut look for the occasion, spent almost as much time waiting vainly for a pass in midfield as he did engaged in his specialist flanker duties in his first game in either code in almost two injury-hit years. The full intricacies of union, notably blindside defence, will take time to absorb but an important psychological hurdle has now been cleared. His next action is due on Sunday when he is likely to be on the bench for Sarries' home game.

Last night's game, though, undoubtedly set new heights for the number of England coaching personnel at a humdrum reserve game. A posse of national academy coaches were among the curious onlookers but, as Ford conceded, it was Farrell's physical state which was most people's first priority. "I kept on looking to see if he was getting up holding anything but he looks 100% to me," said Ford. "The most important thing is that he's in one piece, after what happened to Jonny Wilkinson."

Farrell had previously enjoyed a taste of competitive union, albeit briefly. A decade ago he was part of the Wigan side who faced Bath at union in the 1996 cross-code game at Twickenham but the sport has altered massively since then. Even the sceptics, though, cannot easily gloss over Farrell's league pedigree. Having made his debut for Wigan as a 16-year-old in 1991, he ticked every box the 13-a-side code could offer: winner of the Man of Steel award on two occasions, winner of the best player in the world accolade in 2004, captain of Great Britain at the age of 21. As well as 34 Great Britain caps, he played 368 times for Wigan, mainly at loose-forward and second-row, and was a good enough goalkicker to amass 3,135 points.

The universal respect of his peers persuaded the Rugby Football Union that he could bring similar inspirational qualities to the England union squad. Unfortunately, he was recovering from a knee operation even when he signed in 2005 and has subsequently required toe and back surgery as well. As a consequence, Saracens had wrapped him in as much cotton wool as Hertfordshire could provide. You half-expected him to emerge from the dressing room with a blanket over his head to avoid further publicity but those who know him best remain utterly convinced of his quality. During his injury lay-off, Saracens' long-term benefactor Nigel Wray received a letter from Farrell in which the former Wigan captain, embarrassed by his non-participation since joining the club, pledged to work for Saracens for free for six months after his contract ends. Last season Sarries' full-back Dan Scarbrough went to the physio's room complaining of sore hands after Farrell had fired 20 passes at him in training.

Ford, a friend and, until recently, next-door neighbour of Farrell in Harpenden, is another unashamed fan. "He can definitely make a massive difference. Andy won't think like a typical rugby union player. He can offer an X Factor that hasn't been seen before. Even though he's playing a different code now, I'm totally confident he will be a success."

More serious tests than last night await before that verdict can be endorsed.

England's coach Andy Robinson, meanwhile, will keep on dreaming: "I've got this picture of him attacking off the back of lineouts, or playing at No8 in a scrum that's going forward and running off that scrum. It's a question of imagination." Or, as Farrell himself muttered last year: "If I was a betting man, I'd back myself."