AMIDST THE UTTER excitement at Stade des Alpes last Saturday night, Irishman Chris Farrell delivered the latest in a growing line of impressive performances for Grenoble.
His departure from Ulster in 2014 after two injury-ruined years took him out of the everyday consciousness of Irish rugby, but the 23-year-old has been fulfilling his longstanding potential in France.
An U20 international for Ireland, the imposing centre always looked set for big things, but a cruel run of injuries effectively meant missing two full seasons with Ulster. He made only three appearances in the 2012/13 and 2013/14 campaigns with the northern province, before taking the opportunity for a fresh start offered to him by Bernard Jackman.
The Grenoble head coach had always kept a close eye on the 6’4″ midfielder, who he believed could develop a skillset to match his impressive physicality. As we witnessed in Saturday’s Challenge Cup quarter-final, Farrell is delivering for Jackman.
The former Campbell College student has made a total of 45 appearances across the last two seasons with Grenoble, improving virtually every time he steps onto the field. Farrell looks like being a genuine contender for a call-up to Joe Schmidt’s Ireland squad.
“I think Chris Farrell is very good,” said Jackman of the 108kg centre. “There are a lot of good centres in Ireland at the moment, so I’m not going to say he should be playing for Ireland. But I think in France now his reputation is growing week on week.
“You probably didn’t see the passing game he has tonight but he’s got a brilliant passing game and he’s getting stronger in contact. He’s a guy who, like [Connacht's] Matt Healy and Niyi Adeolokun, he wasn’t lost, but he had very difficult moments in Ulster with injury. But just getting away, he’s found game time.
“Shane O’Leary was here for a year and the fact that he was in the pro environment for a year gave him the CV to get back to Connacht. So it doesn’t matter how you get there as long as you get there, and I think Chris will get there.”
Farrell showed up well in direct opposition to Ireland star Robbie Henshaw at Stade des Alpes, carrying the ball powerfully on his eight carries as he beat three defenders. There were several glimpses of his understanding of space, good footwork and offloading game too.
Defensively, Farrell completed seven tackles, with several of them impressively impactful. Grenoble were not happy with their defensive performance overall, but Farrell stood up well.
Contracted to Grenoble until the summer of 2017, it would be no surprise to see Farrell attract interest from one or two of the Irish provinces in the near future.
“I think it’s important for him to choose the right moment to go back to a team where he’s going to play, and at the moment it’s not obvious where that is,” says Jackman.
“How quickly that happens, I don’t know but playing for us every week is good for him. The way we play is good for him.”
An unassuming character, Farrell will continue to keep his head down and work hard for Grenoble. Irish loosehead Denis Coulson is an emerging prospect at FCG, though scrum-half James Hart is set to exit the club this summer. Farrell has been the most successful Irish import so far for Jackman and co.
If Farrell’s future does not involve a return to one of the provinces, his experiences in France serve as a notice to similarly talented young players. The grass has been much greener for the 23-year-old on foreign soil.
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Delighted! Fatman and Robin upstaged by Krusty!
Sideshow Fell more like!
I am so proud of the Toffees tonight. A master class by Fellaini!
Great result from Everton tonight, all the talk before the game was about United and Van Persie.
Typically now all of the talk is about Utd’s central defender injury crisis…..
A team like Utd should have plenty of cover for all positions, no excuses please, Everton fully deserved their victory. Come on the Toffees ….
Plenty of cover they have 4 centre halves injured! Ferdinand, Evans, Smalling and Jones, all of them would be starters in most premier league sides.
Disgusting from the united fans, the crowds who sang that disgusting chant should be ashamed.
Let’s hope you’re just as critical when Liverpool and city fans are heard singing their Munich chants…
Brian, disappointed that you think I wouldn’t. You never hear singing to that extent about Munich at anfield and if a few idiots try it, they would quickly be shouted down. I find it fairly sad that no united fan has condemned the singing, it wasn’t by just a few either.
so alan,
1. “disappointed that you think I wouldn’t.” – knowing that Liverpool fans have in fact sang Munich related songs can you please post links to were you have in fact been critical of this?
2. “You never hear singing to that extent about Munich at Anfield” – how exactly do you measure “the extent” of chants sung in bad taste? The loudness ( you have some way of measuring this and/or remembering and comparing to Munich related songs by Liverpool supporters)? The percentage of fans singing? The tone of the singing?
3.”they would quickly be shouted down” – Anfield fans have better morals than Manchester United fans?
4. “I find it fairly sad that no united fan has condemned the singing” – about half and hour after the game and only 9 comments in about a big match and you find it “‘sad” that this important event at the game hasn’t been addressed yet???
4. no utd fans shouted down these chants and no utd fans rushing on to thescore.ie to condemn it…alan, am i to believe, that in your heart, with all you have just said, that you believe that liverpool supporters are BETTER people than Man Utd fans? Honestly Alan?
Eh, so you’re not going to condemn then so
whatever makes you happy baron munchhausen…
I think you are painting the picture as to why so many people hate united.
And for the record I’ve spoken to a few utd fans this evening and all have condemned it. So they’re not all idiots
thank you, first of all, for addressing all my points made to you in the original comment.
i was merely pointing out that that all clubs have moron fans and that united aren’t any worse or better than liverpool fans. so many people hate utd fans for the same reason so many people hated liverpool fans in the 80′s and how so many people will hate man city or chelsea in the future.
I don’t need to address any points, what was sang tonight was disgusting, as are Munich, heysel, ibrox chants. You just found it more important to deflect attention.
yeah english soccer fans in disgusting chant shocker. thanks for the heads up…
Time to sell Rooney while he’s still worth something. Looks overweight and just not putting in a shift.
Poor display from utd their keeper had best match since joining
Textbook Scholesie tackle! That fat kid up front for United’s hair plugs have grown over the summer
Typical utd play two midfielders in defence and lose the match how many times have utd done that over the last few years- fergie buy a defender and shoot the twitter happy Ferdinand who’s over the hill and always injured
Will Fergie get banned for throwing that rattle on the pitch?
The first game if the season away to Everton, just paid €24 million pounds for Arsenals best player, lost the league title on the last kick of the game to their nearest and dearest, City, not 3 months ago and all that’s on their mind is Liverpool. I suppose it’s flattering really.
A disastrous start but Man U will still win the league.
Lmao yea you keep thinking that, where was the savior RVP????
Apparently he’s already handed in a transfer request, told Fergie he wants to win something this season
Lol
De Gea looking ropey again, doesn’t bode well for United’s season ahead, maybe they could get Gary Bailey to come out of retirement too
Put on a pair if glasses gaius de gea has been fantastic in the first half
you watching espn classic?
Everton 1 Manchester United 0, let’s be ‘avin ya!!!
At least United have got their toughest game of the season out of the way. Was always going to be tough with Carrick at centre back and Valencia at right back.
But Kagawa looked like he’s going to be a real star for them, I don’t think he gave the ball away once.
And they’ll still be there or thereabouts when the medals are being handed out next May.
You might be right but for a while tonight I thought I was watching Rugby – United having loads of possession and all backward passes. Of course Fergie will get the act together but a major improvement is required
Toughest game of the season. Everton is a harder game than city, Chelsea or and i can say Liverpool because you don’t win at Anfield that often. Ridiculous comment to make. Typical really, every united defeat is the same. Carrick at centre half, the best winger in the league at right back. Would suggest that the problems lay elsewhere other than 24 million for a striker that has averaged 12 goals a season since coming to England. Before you reply with the usual man united/sky sports opinion I am a Liverpool fan and we are atrocious but difference is im not completely delusional about where we are at.
Toughest game of the season? Not a hope in hell. City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Newcastle, Spurs would be bigger opponents than Everton I think
Won’t sleep a wink tonight. – like fcuk!!
Ask to leave the bar for my own safety as one other person and myself cheered as the beauty of a header went in :) had to stay after that great game utd didn’t show up at all.
of course fowlers gonna say that isn’t he. That nose plaster must ne a bit tight.
wat were they singing?
They were singing “If it weren’t for Scousers we could stand” in reference to the hillsborough disaster
Going to bed disappointed at the result but happy in the knowledge that liverpool will be wallowing in 8th or 9th place possibly lower and rodgers will more than likely be sacked by the end of the season!
Whos Wooton?
No dolce vita for united then….
Alas, not even Fatman and Robin could save MU. :-)