London (AFP) - Owen Farrell had the better of his duel with Test fly-half rival Marcus Smith as Saracens defeated Harlequins 36-24 in the Premiership on Saturday only for the England captain to limp off injured at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The match between the London clubs had been billed as a Farrell v Smith showdown,
Each stand-off had their moments but it was Farrell, with the benefit of playing behind the stronger pack, who came out on top.
But Farrell's match ended 10 minutes before full-time when he rolled his left ankle while making a tackle near Saracens' posts.
His injury came during a win that guaranteed Saracens a home semi-final in the title-deciding play-offs.
Farrell, 31, damaged the same joint late in the Six Nations but was passed fit to play against eventual Grand Slam champions Ireland before facing Smith a week later.
Now there are concerns Farrell's latest injury -- he damaged both ankles during the 2021/22 season -- could have long-term implications for both Saracens and England in a year culminating with the Rugby World Cup in France.
More immediately, Saracens face Welsh side the Ospreys in the knockout phase of the Champions Cup a week on Sunday.
"It was a grade one strain before which is normally a seven-day turnaround, which he managed to do in the England week and play that game (Ireland)," said Saracens supremo Mark McCall.
"Whether or not it's still a grade one, we'll see.If it's more than that he won't play.We certainly won't play him if he's not right."
'He speaks, you listen'
Harlequins and England No 8 Alex Dombrandt opened the scoring inside 90 seconds when he sold a dummy before going over for a fine try.
Saracens, however, responded when Alex Lozowski scored between the posts before helping create his side's second try for Wales' Nick Tompkins.
Harlequins scrum-half Danny Care was sin-binned for interfering at the ruck and Farrell's penalty meant Saracens led 17-7.
Quins hit back early in the second half with two tries from winger Cadan Murley but centre Luke Northmore was sin-binned for catching Farrell in the throat and in the next play Saracens's Maro Itoje was driven over for a try from a line-out.
Joe Marler's try kept Quins in the hunt but Saracens, last season's losing finalists, retained control to remain top of the table.
South Africa's World Cup-winning fly-half Handre Pollard scored 19 points, including a try, as champions Leicester maintained their semi-final push with a 46-24 win over Bristol.
"He is everything you would expect from a world-class fly-half," said Leicester boss Richard Wigglesworth of Pollard.
"He has got an intensity to him that when he speaks, you listen."
In Saturday's late kick-off match, London Irish leapfrogged Northampton into the play-off places with a 37-22 win at home to the Saints.
