Farrell set for cup call
OWEN FARRELL is expected to be fit for England’s Calcutta Cup clash with Scotland, despite Eddie Jones giving conflicting answers when questioned about an injury scare for the player in training.
Farrell, due to start the Twickenham showdown at inside centre, limped off during training at the squad’s Surrey base on Thursday morning, receiving treatment before being withdrawn from the final session of the week.
Instead of clarifying the nature of Farrell’s ailment, England head coach Jones gave contradictory responses at the team announcement press conference.
Jones even joked that a collision with his dog Annie, a Papillon, caused the injury.
“Owen could be a doubt. He’s got a bad leg, so he couldn’t finish training. He’ll be all right,” Jones said.
“I think he ran into my dog. My dog was running around and he ran into it.”
When it was pointed out to Jones that he had given conflicting answers over Farrell’s fitness, Jones replied: “Yeah, but I think he’ll be all right, is that OK?”
Greater clarity over Farrell’s injury was provided by his centre partner Jonathan Joseph, who has been recalled in place of Ben Te’o.
“I didn’t see what happened but he’ll be completely fine. He’ll be out there,” Joseph said. ■■Sam Warburton readily acknowledges that Wales have “points to prove” when they tackle RBS 6 Nations rivals Ireland tonight.
Wales will dip to a 10-year low in the tournament if they come unstuck under the Principality Stadium floodlights.
They have not lost three successive Six Nations games in one season since 2007, but after defeats against England and Scotland effectively ended their title hopes, that is the possible scenario facing them.
Ireland have toppled Wales five times from eight previous Six Nations visits to Cardiff, while the visitors will keep this season’s title race alive if they win, setting up a Dublin showdown with unbeaten England next week.
Wales boss Rob Howley has retained the entire starting line-up and replacements’ bench that featured in Edinburgh 12 days ago, bemusing those critics who felt changes were inevitable following a second-half implosion when Scotland scored 20 unanswered points.
And former Wales captain Warburton, who lines up in the back-row alongside Justin Tipuric and Ross Moriarty, accepts that a response is required.
“We’ve seen it in the past where we have let ourselves down, gone back out the week after and produced a positive reaction,” he said.
“I am sure the coaches and players are expecting that to happen again.
“We have points to prove. The second-half performance against Scotland was not up to scratch. There are quite a few things to put right there, and as a team we have got the opportunity to do that.”