Eddie can fulfill midfield dream
JOY AT FARRELL RETURN
ENGLAND expect to finally be able to pick the midfield of their dreams after Owen Farrell was lined up to face Argentina.
Ever since the emergence of Marcus Smith as a must-have Test fly-half midway through last year, Eddie Jones has sought to pair him with a midfield of Farrell and Manu Tuilagi.
The head coach was given a glimpse of what the trio can do when starting Smith, right, and Farrell at 10 and 12 against Australia a year ago, with Tuilagi on the wing but often wreaking havoc inside.
However, Farrell was injured in that win and at no time since then have all three been fit together.
Until yesterday when Jones was able to include them in his squad for Sunday’s clash.
Jones’ selection confirmed Farrell had come through the mandatory 12-day postconcussion rest period, and shown no ill-effect from the lowintensity contact drills he had earlier been permitted to do.
The 31-year-old now has only to pass today’s final head-injury test to complete the graduated return to play programme and get the all-clear.
Farrell is central to the plans of Jones, who rates him “the most energetic and one of the most committed rugby players I’ve ever seen”.
Jones added: “If we don’t have Owen we lose a huge percentage of our fight.”
Farrell’s return to the training pitch yesterday brought a smile to the face of England attack coach Martin Gleeson.
“He looked good, full of enthusiasm,” said Gleeson.
“Owen’s partnership with Marcus is a big part of where we want to go as a team. Their understanding of each other and how we want to play is growing. But they have only played four games together and that is not a lot, whatever position you’re in, when building a combination. “We’re looking to build on that this autumn and I have no doubt we’ll see the rewards of that when we do.” Gleeson believes the potential is there to forge a world-class midfield axis. “They have slightly different qualities but working together they can blossom,” he added.