Fears over Farrell could open door to Lozowski

ALEX LOZOWSKI is set to be fast-tracked into the England squad today, just weeks after starting an emergency stint deputising for Owen Farrell at Saracens.

The 23-year-old fly-half joined the champions in the summer from Wasps and was poised to serve primarily as an understudy to the Lions playmaker. But Farrell has missed the beginning of the season with a back injury and in his absence, Lozowski has made enough of an impression on Eddie Jones to earn a call-up, ahead of the vastly more experienced Danny Cipriani.

Italy have expressed an interest in selecting Lozowski, who also qualifies to represent the Azzurri. But his preferred option is to play for England and if Farrell does not regain full fitness soon, he will have every chance of making his debut at Twickenham during the forthcoming autumn campaign. He will be joined in the squad by Leicester’s Zimbabwe- born flanker Mike Williams, who may find himself in a three-way tussle to fill the void at openside created by the absence of James Haskell. Williams, who operates at blindside for the Tigers, will compete for the No 7 shirt with Teimana Harrison of Northampton and one other newcomer, thought to be Sam Jones of Wasps.

Williams, who qualifies through a grandfather from Sussex, has a strong chance to push for a debut against Springboks, the team he grew up hoping to represent. His director of rugby at Leicester, Richard Cockerill, is confident that he could cope, saying: ‘If you picked him against South Africa, he would certainly do the job. He’s a very good player and he’s only going to get better.’

Jones will not shift Chris Robshaw back to openside, so he will stay at six, with Billy Vunipola at No 8, leaving Williams, Harrison and Jones to contest the last back-row place.

Cipriani is not in the squad, but he should be. This omission will leave him wondering when, if ever, he will have a chance to resurrect his Test career. Reasons for his ongoing omission are unclear, but he remains the ultimate game- changer in English rugby. These days, he is also resilient and focused.

Amid doubts about the state of Farrell’s back, Cipriani deserves the chance to deputise for George Ford and even challenge him for his place. Instead, he will remain out of favour. It is a mystery and a pity.