England look set to make major changes to their back division before the World Cup Group A match with Wales at Twickenham on Saturday, with Owen Farrell to replace George Ford at fly-half and the head coach, Stuart Lancaster, handing Sam Burgess his opportunity at inside centre.
Having started in the victory over Fiji, Jonathan Joseph is a major doubt with a chest injury and is expected to be ruled out. That would allow Burgess to come into the starting XV 11 months after he made the switch from rugby league, with Brad Barritt shifting to outside centre having started at No12 against Fiji.
However, the selection of Farrell ahead of Ford – who has been Lancaster’s preferred choice at No10 since last year’s autumn internationals – is the biggest surprise. The Bath fly-half was hailed as the talisman for England’s new bolder approach in the Six Nations that saw them score a record 18 tries in five matches but he appears to have been made the fall guy for ponderous performances in the warm-up game against France in Paris and against Fiji last week.
It is understood that England, who will announce their side on Thursdaymorning, have trained this week with Farrell at 10, Burgess at 12 and Barritt at 13. Against a Wales side liable to take the most direct route available, that kind of formidable physical barrier clearly has its attractions, if not necessarily in the pace department.
A more seamless option would have been Northampton’s Luther Burrell but he was jettisoned from Lancaster’s final 31. Jack Nowell has also played effectively at 13 for Exeter but this is not really the moment for hopeful experiments. This fixture could define the fortunes of both sides at this World Cup; woe betide the gambler who mislays his shirt.
Andy Farrell, England’s backs coach, was giving little away but did stress that Burgess is not merely seen as an impact replacement.
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