Joseph is ditched in reshuffle
JONATHAN JOSEPH has been left out of England’s matchday squad for the first time since Eddie Jones took charge.
The 25-year-old Bath centre has been a stalwart of the spectacular revival under the Australian head coach, starting 14 Tests and making a replacement appearance in the other one — all victories — since the start of 2016.
However, Joseph has been jettisoned for the RBS 6 Nations clash with Italy at Twickenham on Sunday, paving the way for a new midfield combination.
Jones is preparing to unleash a 10-12-13 unit of Owen Farrell, Ben Te’o and Elliot Daly, with Anthony Watson in contention to start on the wing, having recovered from injury.
Up front, it is likely that James Haskell will be deployed in the starting back row at openside flanker, having served as a replacement in the first two rounds of this Six Nations.
The match will see Farrell reach his Test half- century, though he won’t be raising his bat to acknowledge the crowd — so to speak.
To this ultra- competitor,p, the encounter with Italy is another job to be attackedacked with trademark intentensity, not an occasionon to bask in personal al acclaim. Farrell is s extremely reluctant even to discuss his feats, let alone dwell on them, but as he prepares to o win his 50th cap p he revealed that he has put aside someme mementos to enjoynjoy one day.
‘I have got somee special things at home, but not too many,’ said the 25-year-old at England’s base in Surrey yesterday. ‘I’ve got two shirts framed, that’s all — my first Premiership final with Saracens and my first England cap. They’re not signed by anyone, they’re not even washed. They stink! I don’t think there’s any blood on them, just mud!’
To reach this landmark at such a young age is testament to the impact Farrell has made. Since his debut at 20, he has barely looked back. His technical ability and repertoire of skills have evolved but his prowess has always been founded on the force of his will.
‘I was competitive from a young age — it probably came from having a dad who never let me win at anything,’ he told the BBC.
In his own words,words Farrell feels he is now a ‘mile ahead’ of where he was as a player in February 2012, when he took his place against Scotland at Murrayfield. Casting his mind back to that first outing, he admitted to pre-match tension which is still a factor now, albeit far less pronounced.
‘Was I nervous? Of course,’ he said. ‘You probably build it up into something that it’s not. I’m a lot different now compared to what I used to be.’
Certainly, the feisty streak that used to land him in trouble has been suppressed, and Farrell conceded: ‘ Yes. I’m more in control now.’
In recent times, Farrell has been deputising when captain Dylan Hartley has been off the field. He has led with assurance, but as with everything, he downplays it. However, former club team-mate Steve Borthwick, who is now his national coach, knows exactly what impact he is having.
‘He is a fantastic player but it is also the influence he has on the players around him that makes him better,’ said the ex-Test skipper. ‘He demands more of people. They are better players because he is playing with them. People follow that attitude. He is a tremendous leader in that regard.’ ExETER centre Michele Campagnaro is one of four Italian changes for the England match. Conor O’Shea picked Tommaso Allan at fly-half in place of Carlo Canna and captain Sergio Parisse will win his 124th cap.