Owen Farrell has been hailed as a “phenomenal talent” after becoming the youngest ever player in English professional rugby.

The tribute came from Wales outside-half Stephen Jones, who faced the 17-year-old as Llanelli Scarlets beat Saracens 26-17 in yesterday's EDF Energy Cup tie at Vicarage Road.

Farrell made history when he stepped onto the pitch in the 62nd minute and despite Sarries' defeat made a confident debut, which impressed the visitors.

Jones said: “At 17 I was doing my A levels and would have been too scared to play against the size of opponents who were on the pitch in this match.

“He is a phenomenal talent and looked totally at home which is remarkable but, then again, he does come from a pretty awesome rugby family.”

Farrell, son of rugby league great and Saracens player Andy, could line up alongside his father in later rounds in this competition.

Farrell senior, who is will be fit to return from injury in next weekend's European Challenge Cup match with Mont de Marsan, admitted he was “ very proud” of the family's latest rugby sensation.

His touchline position among the coaching staff gave him the perfect position to run the rule over his son and he said: “He did well but this is only the start.”

Eddie Jones, the Sarries director of rugby, is determined to create regular opportunities for Farrell jnr and the rest of the club's impressive Academy players to shine.

“Owen and the other talented youngsters at this club will play in 20 “A” league games this season and we will also organise a special short tour for them,” he said. “Owen is very mature; he's got a very serious attitude and is desperate to make it.”

Sarries made too many basic errors and allowed Jones to kick four penalties in his 16-point haul with the impressive Noah Cato and Francisco Leonelli grabbing tries for Sarries.

Harlequins had just one survivor from their mid-week win over Worcester when they faced a powerful Ospreys side yesterday and came close to producing a shock away win.

The Ospreys, featuring a host of Welsh Grand Slam heroes, scraped a 24-23 victory after seeing Quins win the second half 20-10.

Dean Richards, the Quins director of rugby, said: “The boys are very disappointed. We didn't have a good first half — we showed the Ospreys too much respect — but then we took it to them in the second-half.

“We have a lot of ability across the board, and we don't have a second team as such. We had five internationals out there. We got ourselves into a position whereby we could, and should, have won the game.”

England wing David Strettle who was ruled out of the World Cup, and then virtually all of England's Six Nations campaign by serious foot injuries, looks certain to need another operation.

Richards added: “In terms of knowing exactly what the score is, we will wait and see what the surgeon says.

“There is a possibility he might have an operation.”

England centre Shane Geraghty, whose career has also been blighted by injury, made a welcome return for London Irish but he could not stop them losing 22-5 at Worcester.

Toby Booth, the Irish director of rugby, made no excuses for the defeat and said: “Worcester came out and thoroughly deserved to win the game. All credit to them but I think we ought to be more clinical to take certain chances we have. I'm slightly disappointed that some people, who were given the opportunity, did not turn up.

“I think Shane Geraghty needs to put a series of games together and play well in those games before he is thrust into the next level up.”