Farrell wins the race for No 10
England boss switches his captain to fly-half and drops Smith to the bench
HOWEVER it is officially packaged, Marcus Smith has been dropped from the England team for tomorrow’s Six Nations clash with Italy — prompting empathy from Steve Borthwick and honesty from Henry Slade in response.
New head coach Borthwick delivered another statement about his willingness to ignore reputations, with confirmation that captain Owen Farrell will wear the No10 shirt against the Azzuri at Twickenham.
With Ollie Lawrence and Slade brought together in midfield, there is no place in the XV for Smith — who not so long ago was viewed as a rookie the back line would be built around for a generation.
This was described yesterday as a horses-for-courses selection, with just this game alone in mind.
However, it emerged that Slade would have started the championship opener against Scotland had he not been ruled out with a hip injury, so this new combination is evidently more like what Borthwick had in mind from the outset.
Perhaps Dan Kelly would have been picked ahead of Lawrence if he was not also on the casualty list, but this type of balance in the 10-12-13 area appears to be the new hierarchy’s preference.
So, for all his prodigious talent, Smith has to bide his time and await the chance for a second-half cameo — unless injuries intervene sooner. While the party line involves an emphasis on everyone having a vital role, Smith will be wounded.
Asked about that sense of disappointment, Borthwick cited the end of his own England playing career. He said: ‘You’re talking to the man who got dropped from the England captaincy when he was on honeymoon.
‘I’m on the beach in Bali with my wife and I get a phone call (from Martin Johnson) saying: “Hey, Steve, you’re no longer England captain. Actually, you’re no longer in the England squad”. It hurts, but what you’ve got to do is keep working to get better.
‘Every player would be (disappointed) but it’s a selfless attitude I want to develop in this team and that’s what I’ve seen from the guys not selected this week.’
Slade’s return has had a knock-on effect. Borthwick was certain the experienced centre should be in the first-choice midfield, which meant a change at 10 in the interests of balance. A combination of Smith, Farrell and Slade would not work.
The recalled Slade acknowledged that Smith will be hurting. ‘He’ll obviously want to be starting and there will be frustration for him. It’s a test of character. He’ll be as determined as ever when he comes on and I’m sure he’ll bounce back.’
Borthwick believes he is deploying a complementary midfield unit, with a repertoire of right and leftfooted kicking, powerful carrying and distribution. ‘I think there’s a great blend of strengths there,’ he said.
He has inherited an age-old selection dilemma at inside-centre which has bedevilled England regimes for years. He admitted new contenders are emerging, but he needs more.
‘If you look at the 12s across the Premiership, a lot of them are not English,’ he said. ‘As I look down the depth chart, there are some very good young centres in England.
‘There is excitement about them but, right now, we could do with more competition in that area.’
England need to disrupt Italian possession tomorrow, as Kieran Crowley’s side will pose a significant threat out wide if allowed to operate with quick, front-foot ball.
With that in mind, master poacher Jack Willis has been recalled at openside flanker.
It was in this fixture two years ago he suffered a horrendous knee injury which ruled him out for a year. Having overcome that personal adversity, he had to relocate across the Channel in a hurry earlier this season after the collapse of Wasps.
Borthwick paid tribute to Willis’ breakdown prowess and character, saying: ‘When you watch his games and watch him train — he hunts. He’s there working, looking, hunting for the (turnover) opportunity. He carries the ball well, as well as stealing the ball on the floor.
‘He strikes me as being really resilient. He’s been through a lot in his career. Look what’s happened to him just this year — losing his job, then having to provide for his young family but not being quite sure what is happening.
‘He had to make the decision to go to France; to move his family there, but he is desperate to play for England.
‘This is a guy who is really driven. I see tremendous resilience and character.’
Borthwick suggested Lawrence has shown similar qualities in handling the demise of Worcester and his hurried move to Bath, where he has emerged as the Premiership’s form centre.
England will have to show resilience and character across the board tomorrow. Italy are on the rise. They are not coming to Twickenham to meekly accept their fate. They are more adventurous and have the global game’s breakthrough star in ‘racing snake’ full-back Ange Capuozzo. They are physical, passionate and infused with belief, after so nearly lowering the colours of champions France last Sunday — on the back of an autumn victory over Australia and the momentous win in Cardiff at the end of the last Six Nations.
England will have to play far better than they did against Scotland. They have X-factor on the bench with Smith and Henry Arundell primed to wreak havoc in the final quarter, and they will surely cut down on the glaring defensive and lineout lapses which scarred the launch of the new era.