Owen Farrell was named World Cup captain two months early, but Steve Borthwick’s mind had been made up way before then.
The club season had hardly finished when Borthwick met Farrell for a two-hour walk across Harpenden farmlands. Ten days later, on June 30, he took the unusual step of confirming his skipper, some eight weeks before the selection deadline.
Those now urging Borthwick to omit Farrell from the starting XV on Sunday are either missing — or denying — the obvious. Exhorting Borthwick to pick George Ford at fly-half and Manu Tuilagi at inside centre surely takes screaming into the void to new levels. Maybe it sounds good, but no one is listening.
If England are to reshape their midfield to take on Fiji in Marseille, then Farrell will surely step up at fly-half. But all of England’s attacking patterns have been predicated around pairing Ford and Farrell at 10 and 12. There would be few selections further away from type than for Borthwick to abandon that process now, just when everything matters most.
England believe that the pairing allows them to have all their best players on the field at the same time. The theory holds good, and the twin playmakers ought to allow Tuilagi to pick his running line off either man, then set about careering over the gainline.
The menu is extensive, but now England must make sure they do not end up spoiled for choice. Demoting Farrell to the bench would also limit the options and abilities to change up the approach during the contest.
Marcus Smith’s revelatory form at full-back render him nailed-on for a cameo at 15. England will also need the versatility of an outside back on the bench, however, and Farrell’s many talents do not stretch to featuring at 13 outwards.
Smith’s acceleration and sharpness have helped him hit top form, and England have been shrewd in finding a way to exploit his myriad talents, but full-back cameos feel suitable for now.
Borthwick has unstinting belief that Farrell is the leader and talisman to drive this team into the latest stages of this tournament. That unquenching faith is about to be put to the ultimate test.
