Te’o has to prove he is a pass master to keep shirt

When England announced their team to play France, the selection of Ben Te’o over Jonathan Joseph at outside centre was lost somewhat amid the intrigue over the absence of Mike Brown and the elevation of Owen Farrell to the captaincy.

I can understand why, but I believe when England run out at the Stade de France today, no one will have more to prove than the Worcester Warriors man. We all know what Te’o (below) is capable of as a hard-running, gain-line-breaking centre, but few could argue we have seen the best of him in an England shirt.

When we talk about Te’o’s potential, the biggest body of evidence comes from his achievements on the British and Irish Lions tour, rather than anything he has done with club or country. To have done more with the Lions before you have made a lasting impact with England or Worcester is incredibly unusual, and it is now time for Te’o to repay the faith Eddie Jones has shown in him.

To be fair to Te’o, for most of his time with England, he has been used as an impact substitute. This will be his third start in 12 Tests and no side has enjoyed facing him during the last 15 or 20 minutes of a close game.

But that also reflects how English rugby is a little unsure about the 31-year-old and whether he really has what it takes at this level. To an extent, that is due to his rugby league background. In the past 20 years, Sam Burgess, Shontayne Hape, Andy Farrell,

Henry Paul and Joel Tomkins have all switched codes and played for England in the centres. None of them could be considered a roaring success, and there is an understandable scepticism about why Te’o could be different.

I think he is a better fit in union than any of those mentioned above, but I am still not convinced he is the long-term answer at outside centre, and the prime reason for that is his distribution.

In every other respect, Te’o fits the bill. He is a gifted runner and an excellent defender. He makes hits that change games – think of the enormous tackle he made on Sonny Bill Williams in the first Lions Test – and is a big-game player.

But he struggles to make difficult passes, particularly over long distances. We saw that in Auckland, when he was unable to capitalise on a three-on-one as he was not able to make a big pass off his left hand, instead he cut back against the grain and wasted the chance. In the modern game your outside centre is an auxiliary fly-half, one that should keep defenders guessing. I do not know if Te’o can do that, which concerns me.

If this sounds overly negative, it should not. I can completely understand why Te’o has been selected for this game, and I agree with the decision to play him. Joseph struggled against Scotland, particularly in defence, and he can have no complaints at being dropped.

Te’o’s selection is also a nod to the fact that Mathieu Bastareaud is France’s main danger and his physicality will help to negate that threat.

It also acknowledges that England simply could not get any forward momentum against Scotland as they were receiving such slow ball. As a result, George Ford and Farrell were extremely flat and the whole back division was too lateral. If the pack struggle again – and I must say I am very surprised Jones has stuck with the same back row after their difficulties in Edinburgh – then Te’o guarantees England will at least make some ground in adversity.

But if everyone is fit, then I do not think Te’o will be England’s starting 13 at the World Cup. I do not think it will be Joseph, either. Instead, with every change in selection, the more convinced I am that, if fit, Manu Tuilagi will be starting for England in Japan. He combines the best of Joseph and Te’o, and I know Jones is a huge fan.

That question mark over his fitness is a huge one, though, and Te’o has a chance to lay down a marker in Paris. It is time for him to show England what he is all about.