Owen Farrell: No bad blood between him and Schalk Brits
Owen Farrell insists there are 'no dramas' between him and his Saracens team-mate Schalk Brits after their Hong Kong Stadium bust-up.
Brits will serve a three-week ban at the start of next season after being cited for striking the fly-half during Saturday's friendly match between the Barbarians and British and Irish Lions.
Referee Steve Walsh initially penalised Farrell for reacting to Brits' indiscretion, but he reversed the decision - and yellow-carded Brits - on viewing big-screen television replays.
Lions' half-back Farrell played down the incident and said it serves as a reminder to keep a cool head in the pressure situations he is likely to face as the tour increases in intensity.
"Things happen in rugby," he said. "I was trying to hold him into a ruck, and he reacted to that. It all happens in rugby. There's no dramas there.
"When someone reacts to you, you try not to take a backward step, not just in this occasion but in every occasion. I just grabbed him. There was nothing nasty in it.
"It is a reminder of how vital it is to keep cool and not respond to provocation.
"These are big games, every game for the Lions is massive, and to lose someone to the bin would be massive. You can't afford to do that - everyone has to be disciplined.
"I shook Schalk's hand after the game, and he apologised when he came back on to the field." Source : http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/16057/8754671/Owen-Farrell-says-Schalk-Brits-was-apologetic-after-Hong-Kong-bust-up
