Owen Farrell and George Ford are expected to start together for England for the first time since March 2021 as Steve Borthwick prepares to reprise their 10-12 axis against Samoa on Saturday.
Ford was dropped to the bench for England’s previous World Cup group game, the 71-0 victory over Chile, having been named man of the match in the wins over Argentina and Japan, and the Guardian understands he is poised to return at fly-half for England’s final group game, with Farrell moving to inside centre.
It was a partnership that enjoyed great success under Eddie Jones at the start of his tenure when England went on a 17-match winning run and was integral to the 2019 World Cup semi-final win over New Zealand. Under Borthwick, however, the pair have lined up together only twice – against Wales in the warm-up win at Twickenham for only five minutes before Farrell was sent to the sin-bin – and for 30 minutes against Chile.
The selection would indicate Borthwick’s plans for the knockout stages of the competition and there has always been a sense that the head coach would go down this route once both players were available. Ford was called into training camps during the Six Nations but was not deemed fit enough to play.
Elsewhere, barring a late change of heart, Manu Tuilagi is primed to lineup in the No 13 jersey outside Ford and Farrell – just as he did against the All Blacks in 2019 – and make a first appearance against the country of his birth. Tuilagi moved from Samoa to the UK as a teenager and is set for an emotional appearance against the Pacific Islanders.
It is believed Joe Marchant, who has impressed at outside-centre to date, is being lined up for a move to the wing with Jonny May on the other, meaning there would be no place for Henry Arundell, who scored five tries against Chile. Freddie Steward is also expected to be recalled at full-back.
Up front, Tom Curry is available again after suspension and is set to return to the backrow alongside Courtney Lawes and Ben Earl, with Billy Vunipola again expected to be a notable absentee from Borthwick’s starting XV. Vunipola started against Chile but was only on the bench when he made his comeback from suspension against Japan.
