SARACENS full-back Alex Goode hailed his club teammate Owen Farrell as an ‘exceptional player’ for guiding England to Six Nations victories over Ireland and France. 

In the absence of regular skipper Dylan Hartley, fly-half Farrell took the armband for the crunch clash with Ireland last Saturday as England thumped the Six Nations champions 32-20 before routing the French at Twickenham on Sunday. 

Goode is more than used to playing alongside Farrell, with the two players key cogs in the Sarries side for almost a decade. 

The talented full-back isn’t part of the England squad for the Six Nations and last wore the Red Rose in 2016, but was full of praise for Farrell and the rest of the team. 

“Even when the team’s struggled in the past Owen (Farrell) has been a shining light,” commented Goode, who has been shortlisted for the EPCR European Player of the Year award for his Saracens form this season. 

“He’s got an exceptional level of performance that you see week in, week out, in the Premiership and every time he plays for England he’s brilliant. 

“I thought he guided the team around really, really well against Ireland, but I also thought Ben Youngs did a phenomenal job with the kicking game as well, our wingers got after it every single time. 

“On the back end of a penalty count they didn’t let that phase them at all and kept coming back again and again and again. 

“It was a brilliant performance from England and I’m so happy for the team and for the Sarries guys who were exceptional as well – it was outstanding.” 

Playmakers Goode and Farrell have enjoyed much success together in club colours, winning the Premiership trophy four times and European Cup twice this decade. 

And Sarries’ success is looking to have a key bearing on England’s current Six Nations campaign, with the likes of Mako and Billy Vunipola, Jamie George, Maro Itoje, George Kruis and Farrell all starting in Dublin, with all but the injured Itoje also among the starting XV against France.

Alex Goode was speaking at a Gallagher ‘Train with your Heroes’ session at Harrow RFC after their U14s side won a nationwide competition launched by Gallagher, a passionate community insurance broker and proud title partner of Premiership Rugby.