ENGLAND NOW AIM TO TURN IT UP TO THE MAX

Owen Farrell does not indulge in hype but yesterday he was happy to talk up the new full-back who england will unleash against France tomorrow.

The national captain has witnessed the development of Max Malins at Saracens and he has seen how the 24-year-old’s progress has accelerated during a loan spell at Bristol.

now Malins has been selected by eddie Jones for his first start in the no 15 shirt at Twickenham and Farrell is convinced that the gifted rookie has all the attributes to thrive on this Six nations occasion.

‘Max is a dangerous full-back,’ he said. ‘He makes things happen. He beats people. He’s quick and he’s strong and he’s got a great instinct about the game, which is a brilliant quality to have. He has been on an upwards curve in terms of his performances and playing more regularly.

‘at Saracens, he was still learning and showing some real bits of brilliance. now he has gone to Bristol in a year that has been brilliant for him and gone through the roof in terms of having regular game-time and showing how good he is consistently.

‘He has always been someone who makes things happen. He has grown up as a fly-half predominantly, then a fly-half who can play a bit of full-back and now probably leaning a bit more towards full-back. He has always been able to beat people and open the game up. That’s been constant. He’s probably now just doing it more and more, with the more chances that he’s got.’

Those are the playing qualities that Farrell believes can see Malins emerge as a game-breaking asset to england, but he will need mental resilience, too — to cope with the elevation to a significant role at international level, after a handful of cameos off the bench.

‘I don’t think his character will come into question because he’ll take confidence from the way his form has been and the way he has been training,’ added Farrell.

Jones picked Malins ahead of one of his senior stalwarts, elliot Daly, who has been demoted to a place among the reserves on the back of unconvincing recent form.

The head coach will not accept that any player is dropped — insisting they are merely reassigned — so that thorny issue was not addressed. Instead, he praised Malins.

‘He’s really impressed us,’ said Jones. ‘He’s got a good kick-return game, a good feeling for the game, brings pace on to the ball and particularly playing against France, who are the highest kicking and longest kicking team in the world, the full-back is pretty busy, so he will have a big role for us.’

another player who will have a big role is luke Cowan-Dickie, the exeter hooker who will start ahead of Jamie George.

Jones paid tribute to the Chief, noting: ‘His power has really come to the fore and he is in the best physical condition I’ve ever seen him.’

Bath captain Charlie ewels has replaced Jonny Hill as a starting lock, with a view to taking on the job of running england’s lineout, which has fallen to the over-loaded Maro Itoje during the early part of this championship. and centre Ollie lawrence has been recalled as one of three backs on the bench.

england have been working with referees Matthew Carley and wayne Barnes in an attempt to solve their disciplinary issues.

Jones said: ‘we’ve tried to create training sessions to replicate a disappointment in the game — a bad call by the referee or unfair conditions in the game — to put the players under pressure.’