Eddie brings Farrell back to centre stage

ENGLAND will have the talismanic Owen Farrell back at inside centre against Australia on Saturday. The 26-year-old was rested last weekend as England began their autumn campaign with a disjointed victory over Argentina. He was said by coach Eddie Jones to have ‘hated’ being left out to manage his work-load and Farrell went on to act as a water carrier. But someone else will have to bring on the drinks this Saturday, as Farrell returns in a rejigged midfield. Ben Youngs and George Ford are likely to be retained at half-back when Jones names his side this morning, while Henry Slade is set to move out to 13 to accommodate Farrell, with Jonathan Joseph dropping to the bench. Jonny May is poised to come into the team out wide, after his recovery from a hamstring strain. With Mike Brown almost certainly unavailable following his head knock, Anthony Watson is on course to start at full back, with Elliot Daly on the other wing. Up front, Dylan Hartley will continue to lead England as hooker in an unchanged front row. Likewise, the back row should be the same one as against Argentina, but Joe Launchbury and Maro Itoje are vying to join Courtney Lawes in the second row. Lawes hailed Farrell yesterday, saying: ‘He’s a brilliant leader and an exceptional player. He can change the course of a game and the dynamics of the team. He’s one of the most focused players I’ve ever come across. ‘He leads by example and wants to drag other people up to that level. You need those players in your team.’

ENGLAND (possible): A Watson; J May, H Slade, O Farrell, E Daly; G Ford, B Youngs; M Vunipola, D Hartley (capt), D Cole; C Lawes, J Launchbury; C Robshaw, N Hughes, S Underhill.