Jacky Lorenzetti, the head honcho over at Racing 92, is not a happy camper. In fact, he's downright nauseous over Owen Farrell's departure. The England flyhalf, who dipped his toes in Parisian waters in 2024 after leaving Saracens, didn't exactly have a dream season at Racing, wrestling with both groin and concussion woes. But what really turned Lorenzetti's stomach was Farrell's sudden U-turn back to Saracens and subsequent Lions caper.
Farrell's Parisian saga ended rather abruptly after a head injury during the Challenge Cup semi-final against Lyon on May 4, sidelining him for the remainder of the season. Yet, just when he was supposedly out for the count, Farrell bounced back, securing a spot in Andy Farrell’s Lions squad by July 3, replacing the injured Elliot Daly. His participation in the Lions' last two Tests against Australia was a slap in the face for Lorenzetti, given Farrell had just claimed he needed a lighter load due to his injuries.
"I was upset, I felt like vomiting. When he left us, he told us, 'I am injured, I have a headache, I want to play less. The Saracens offer me this opportunity etc ...' And a few days later, he played with the Lions. He lied to us. I need to say the truth about him. I have the feeling to have been betrayed."
During his brief stint in France, Farrell managed only 14 starts. Lorenzetti didn't mince words earlier in the season either, likening Farrell's recovery pace to "a snail going backwards." The Racing chief's frustration isn't just reserved for Farrell; he's had a few choice words for other international stars like Johnny Sexton and Siya Kolisi, who have also had less-than-stellar seasons under his tenure.
Lorenzetti's blunt critiques extend beyond Farrell. He previously lambasted Kolisi after a particularly lackluster performance against Bordeaux, calling the Springbok captain "out of shape" and "transparent." It seems that at Racing 92, the international stars are under the microscope, and Lorenzetti is not shy about calling out underperformance, whether it's due to fitness, form, or alleged falsehoods.
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Jacky Lorenzetti, the head honcho over at Racing 92, is not a happy camper. In fact, he's downright nauseous over Owen Farrell's departure. The England flyhalf, who dipped his toes in Parisian waters in 2024 after leaving Saracens, didn't exactly have a dream season at Racing, wrestling with both groin and concussion woes. But what really turned Lorenzetti's stomach was Farrell's sudden U-turn back to Saracens and subsequent Lions caper.
Farrell's Parisian saga ended rather abruptly after a head injury during the Challenge Cup semi-final against Lyon on May 4, sidelining him for the remainder of the season. Yet, just when he was supposedly out for the count, Farrell bounced back, securing a spot in Andy Farrell’s Lions squad by July 3, replacing the injured Elliot Daly. His participation in the Lions' last two Tests against Australia was a slap in the face for Lorenzetti, given Farrell had just claimed he needed a lighter load due to his injuries.
"I was upset, I felt like vomiting. When he left us, he told us, 'I am injured, I have a headache, I want to play less. The Saracens offer me this opportunity etc ...' And a few days later, he played with the Lions. He lied to us. I need to say the truth about him. I have the feeling to have been betrayed."
During his brief stint in France, Farrell managed only 14 starts. Lorenzetti didn't mince words earlier in the season either, likening Farrell's recovery pace to "a snail going backwards." The Racing chief's frustration isn't just reserved for Farrell; he's had a few choice words for other international stars like Johnny Sexton and Siya Kolisi, who have also had less-than-stellar seasons under his tenure.
Lorenzetti's blunt critiques extend beyond Farrell. He previously lambasted Kolisi after a particularly lackluster performance against Bordeaux, calling the Springbok captain "out of shape" and "transparent." It seems that at Racing 92, the international stars are under the microscope, and Lorenzetti is not shy about calling out underperformance, whether it's due to fitness, form, or alleged falsehoods.