As his 54th minute penalty soared through the posts, Owen Farrell surpassed yet another points landmark for England in Sunday’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final win over Fiji.
Farrell was instrumental to his side’s efforts as England edged to a second successive semi-final, bagging five penalties, a conversion and a vital 72nd minute drop goal when the scores were tied.
Amidst the jubilation of another step towards world glory, Farrell also had a personal achievement to celebrate.
Just eight days after the England captain overtook Jonny Wilkinson as England’s highest ever point scorer, Farrell surpassed the 1,200 points mark for his nation.
It becomes the latest in a litany of landmarks reached by the 32-year-old throughout his 11-year tenure as a staple of the national side.
As Farrell turns his attention to Saturday’s mammoth final four showdown with South Africa, let’s delve into the numbers behind one of the greatest fly-halves to ever don an England jersey.
20 – One for the future
In his first game as head coach, Stuart Lancaster picked Farrell to play in England’s Six Nations clash against Scotland on February 4, 2012.
At 20 years old, Farrell was the youngest player in the squad.
That didn’t faze him, however, and after a phenomenal first year, he was nominated for IRB Player of the Year – only to lose out to New Zealand great Dan Carter.
Starting as he meant to continue.
3 – Six Nations glory
In 2016, Farrell won his first major international trophy as England strolled to a Six Nations Grand Slam.
He followed this up by playing every minute of England’s 2017 Six Nations campaign to retain the championship, before enjoying his third triumph in the Championship in 2020.
412 – Wilkinson in his sights
There was more to the 2016 Six Nations than just team glory for Farrell.
He finished as the Championship’s leading points scorer with 69 points, taking his England haul to 412 and past Paul Grayson into second on the all-time England charts.
Sitting 767 points off Wilkinson’s record, Farrell wasn’t going to settle for second best.
2019 – New captain, renewed heights
After deputising for captain Dylan Hartley in 2017 and 2018, Farrell was confirmed as England captain ahead of the 2019 Guinness Six Nations.
Later that year, he would lead his nation to a Rugby World Cup final in Japan – their first since 2007.
250 – Penalty king
Farrell has kicked a staggering 250 penalties throughout his England career.
In addition to all those for his country, who can forget his series-levelling kick for the Lions in 2017.
The man for the big occasion.
4 – Drop goals
Ever since Wilkinson’s heroics in 2003, drop goals have always been synonymous with England kickers.
A reliable converter from the tee, Farrell has also dipped his toes in kicking points from open play, scoring four drop goals in his international career.
Of course, the most recent of those came against Fiji – a pivotal score that kept his nation’s World Cup dreams alive.
10 – Getting over the line
While a regular on the scoresheet, it’s relatively rare to see England’s trusty fly-half forcing himself over the try line.
That said, he does have 10 England tries to his name – including the final score of his side’s memorable thrashing of France in the 2019 Championship.
110 – Staple of the side
As of his last outing against Fiji, Farrell has made 110 appearances across his decade-plus career with England.
From Six Nations crowns to the World Cup challenges, he’s been a mainstay throughout all the highs and lows.
1 – England’s number one
Whatever comes of England’s final weeks in France, they will always have the moment Farrell surpassed the great Jonny Wilkinson as England’s number one.
The 18-17 victory over Samoa in Lille won’t go down as England’s finest World Cup moment, but a first-half penalty from Farrell cemented his play in the record books – and it will take some topping.
1,206 – Points galore
We finish on his most recent landmark – after a match-winning contribution in Marseille, Farrell has now surpassed the 1,200 points mark for England.
He sits third on the all-time international list, six points behind Wilkinson in second due to his impressive British & Irish Lions tally, but looks set to pass him again this weekend.
Wilkinson does, of course, have a World Cup win to his name – time will tell if Farrell can put the finishing touches to a glittering career and become just the second man to lead England to global glory?
