OWEN REMAINS CALM DESPITE RED ROSE WOES

SOUTH AFRICA REPS: WHEN England went into camp to prepare for today’s South Africa clash they exuded a spirit of defiance.

“We are England, we are at home,” said Mike Brown. “We want to stamp our authority. Show no fear, push them hard. Really give it a go.” A fortnight on and much has changed, not least for Brown – dropped by Eddie Jones for the first time in his career.

The injury list has overtaken and now dwarfs the number of suspensions (two) and retirements (one) robbing Jones of front-line stars. Just when it seemed it could get no worse, Manu Tuilagi withdrew yesterday with a groin strain, forcing a reshuffle that brings Chris Ashton onto the bench. All of a sudden, a seriously understrength team with a new defensive structure appears there for the taking, no matter that they are England and playing at home. Only you would not know it from talking to Owen Farrell, after his goal-kicking session at Twickenham yesterday. While misfortune forces England to their knees, Farrell stands as tall as ever.

“I’ve not thought about it in that way,” he said, when it was suggested inexperience and a shortage of forward muscle puts the world’s No.4 ranked nation at extreme risk of a sixth defeat in seven Tests.

“We’ve trained hard, enjoyed it, and are now excited for a home game. “We know we will have to work hard but that is good.”

The 27-year-old exuded such calm he did not seem to care whether he or fellow co-captain Dylan Hartley (above) had the job of team spokesman in conversations with the referee.

“Whoever is closer at the time?” he ventured, before playing down the title given to him by Jones as the side’s “spiritual leader”.

“I’ll always talk as I do and try and be as energetic,” he added. “But the main thing is to play well. A lot of that is about making sure the occasion gets the best out of you. I’ll try to be myself.”

Farrell at his best gives England a chance, but only if they avoid the indiscipline that brought them down in South Africa.

This time they have not signed their own death warrant by preparing at sea level for a match at altitude, as they did not once but twice in June.

Nonetheless, a Red Rose victory this afternoon remains a long shot. Just don’t expect Farrell to see it that way.