Owen Farrell has returned to England number 10 — but how long will he stay there? Photo: Reuters/Peter Ciborra
When Steve Borthwick first drew up his initial World Cup pool selection draw for England, it was unlikely that Owen Farrell's name would be anywhere near the line-up to face Chile in Lille. Saturday.
The least difficult of the four pool games, in which England could be expected to win big, Borthwick would have initially seen it as an opportunity to rotate the squad and give the team some breathing room. most of his starting XV and an opportunity for others to boost morale.
But everything changed the moment Farrell was suspended for a red card against Wales last month. His immediate return to the starting lineup in place of George Ford, who drops to the bench, is not only a public endorsement of his captain by Borthwick, but also indicates that Farrell now has something to prove.
Just as Billy Vunipola, who made his first start in Lille on Saturday after picking up a red card against Ireland, found the team to have progressed further in his absence, George Ford's outstanding performances in the wins over Argentina and Japan have left Farrell not only struggling to regain the number 10 jersey, but also to justify his place in the team.
Of all the gladiatorial fights he has taken part in, suddenly the game against Chile, ranked 22nd in the world rankings, has taken on the status of critical importance for the 31-year-old player.
What could be the matter? This is his final World Cup campaign and it is new territory for Farrell, who has been a mainstay of the team for over a decade.
Borthwick may retain his captain in terms of his leadership role, but the England manager has already shown during the Six Nations that he is willing to move on from Farrell. No player, not even a captain, is guaranteed his place, with form and strategy being the deciding factors in selection, and Courtney Lawes has stepped up to captain the field during Farrell's absence.
“The first I can say is that this it's incredible to be in a position to have players of that ability,» Borthwick said.
It is noteworthy that Borthwick chose to swap the two half-time lines rather than combine both, resuming the 10-12 partnership from four years ago led England to the World Cup final in Japan.
Ford and Farrell briefly resumed work. their partnership under Borthwick saw Ford come off the bench during the World Cup warm-up against Wales at Twickenham last month before the England captain was sent off for a heavy tackle on Thane Basham.
The England head coach dabbled with two playmakers at 10 and 12 at the start of the Six Nations when Marcus Smith and Farrell played together in the defeat to Scotland but has since decided against it, suggesting he is unlikely to do so. as we enter the business portion of the World Cup.
The two-man option is likely to be used from the bench. “We can all see how well he (Ford) played in the first two rounds of this World Cup. He was in excellent shape. Will we see George Ford and Owen Farrell at 10 and 12? I think this may happen at some point in the game.
«We can't predict what will happen, but it is possible,» Borthwick said. They have been a great partner in the past.
“These guys have trained a lot, working together. They've known each other for a long, long time and you've seen how they can work together. There is great synergy in their work together. This is one of the potential situations that could happen this weekend. What a brilliant opportunity to have this opportunity.”
The development of Marcus Smith into a full-back adds another layer of intrigue around midfield selection, giving England an attacking vision from deep that could still be important in making an impact from the bench as we approach the knockout stage.
Smith's cameo roles and the rivalry between Farrell and Ford appear to have justified Borthwick's decision to go with three hemispheres, two more than his predecessor did with Australia.
Farrell will no doubt be looking to reassert himself and he appears to have been a hugely impressive leader as non-playing captain over the last four weeks, with greater authority for a player who has previously made his leadership statements of intent with his actions on the field . field.
“I think Owen, first and foremost, sets an example that is second to none, and he is someone you can follow that example,” Borthwick added. “Secondly, his ability to use all these people and make them powerful leaders on the team is a real skill. I think it's an incredible skill. I think he did it brilliantly.”
For now, however, it will be important that he keeps his emotions under control. If one of Borthwick's key aims was to develop competition for places in the wider squad, the emergence of Ben Earl and Lewis Ludlam has already created that competitive edge in the back row.
The battle for England's No.10. shirt will be updated soon. And England fans can only hope that this will breathe life into the team's attacking play. And Pharrell knows it's time to act.
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