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Owen Farrell dropped to the bench by England for the first time since the 2015 Rugby World Cup; Head coach Steve Borthwick’s decision comes as he takes charge of England for the fourth time; Marcus Smith returns to the starting XV at fly-half, with loosehead prop Ellis Genge named captain
Last updated: 09/03/23 13:39
Marcus Smith has been recalled to start for England vs France, with captain Owen Farrell dropped
Owen Farrell has been dropped by England head coach Steve Borthwick for Friday’s Six Nations match against France at Twickenham, with Marcus Smith brought in to start and Ellis Genge named captain.
Farrell has started all three of England’s games at Borthwick to date since Eddie Jones’ departure in December, but England’s new coach has made the biggest call of the short term so far, having previously named Farrell as captain.
The decision – the only England change from the starting team that beat Wales 20-10 in Round 3 – is the first time Farrell, 31, has been dropped for England since the 2015 World Cup, and could prove pivotal with the 2023 edition of the tournament coming up in September.
With Farrell starting Saturday’s Test among the substitutes, and vice-captain Courtney Lawes withdrawing from the squad earlier this week with a shoulder injury, Genge will lead England as captain.
Farrell was dropped to the bench by England for the first time in eight years
Smith and Farrell started together in England’s first game in Borthwick, a 29-23 Round 1 defeat to Scotland, but the 24-year-old Harlequins star was then dropped to the bench for the win over Italy and Wales, appearing for just a total of nine minutes in both game, and less than a minute in Cardiff.
Smith was then released from England’s training squad for the rest of last week, enabling him to get some game time and put in an impressive performance as Harlequins beat Exeter in the Premier League.
England head coach Steve Borthwick made a big selection call in just the fourth game
George Ford, who was detained in the England camp during the fallow week when Smith was released, has not been selected in the squad and has returned to the Sale Sharks club.
Farrell, who led England to the final of the 2019 World Cup, has struggled to find his best form recently, with his goal kicking struggles leading to calls for help from England legend Jonny Wilkinson.
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England defense coach Kevin Sinfield told Sky Sports how good the selection is at fly-half
England go into Saturday’s third game in the Six Nations standings level on points with Scotland at the top and France at the bottom.
Grand Slam hopefuls Ireland, who are five points clear at the top, face Scotland at Murrayfield on Sunday before completing their campaign at home to England the following weekend.
Loosehead prop Ellis Genge has been named England captain vs France at Twickenham
The only other change to the squad is the injured Lawes dropping, as David Ribbans comes on the substitutes’ bench as second row cover.
English: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Max Malins, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Ollie Lawrence, 11 Anthony Watson, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Jack van Poortvliet; 1 Ellis Genge (c), 2 Jamie George, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 4 Ollie Chessum, 5 Maro Itoje, 6 Lewis Ludlam, 7 Jack Willis, 8 Alex Dombrandt
Replacement: 16 Jack Walker, 17 Mako Vunipola, 18 Dan Cole, 19 David Ribbans, 20 Ben Curry, 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 Owen Farrell, 23 Henry Arundell.
Danty returns to the French midfield; Prop Aldegheri, the Cros flanker started
France head coach Fabien Galthie has made three changes to the team that takes on Scotland at the Stade de France in Round 3.
Two of them performed, with tighthead Dorian Aldegheri replacing the suspended Mohamed Haouas after a red card, and Francois Cros called up in place of the injured flanker Anthony Jelonch (knee).
The third change came at the back, with Jonathan Danty making his first start in place of Yoram Moefana at centre-back.
Moefana dropped to the bench, where he was joined by Peato Mauvaka, Maxime Lucu and the returning Melvyn Jaminet.
France: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Jonathan Danty, 11 Ethan Dumortier, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Antoine Dupont (c); 1 Cyril Baille, 2 Julien Marchand, 3 Dorian Aldegheri, 4 Thibaud Flament, 5 Paul Willemse, 6 Francois Cros, 7 Charles Ollivon, 8 Gregory Alldritt.
Replacement: 16 Peato Mauvaka 17 Reda Wardi, 18 Sipili Falatea, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Sekou Macalou, 21 Maxime Lucu, 22 Yoram Moefana, 23 Melvyn Jaminet.
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