Steve Borthwick has decided. Owen Farrell, lined up at center in the last match against Samoa, will this time start at fly-half, to the detriment of George Ford, for England’s World Cup quarter-final against Fiji on Sunday (5 p.m.) in Marseille , according to the composition revealed Friday.
Suspended for the first two matches of the tournament against Argentina and Japan, the English captain was perfectly replaced by Ford, very effective in his kicking game.
Enough to pose a rich problem for coach Steve Borthwick, who decided to play the two men together during the last group match against Samoa, with Ford at flyhalf and Farrell at first center. A moderately conclusive association, for a sluggish victory for the XV de la Rose (18-17), which will not be repeated against the Fijians.
Farrell (32 years old, 109 caps) takes control of the game alongside scrum-half Alex Mitchell, again preferred to the more experienced Danny Care, who made a good start last weekend.
Borthwick also had a major surprise in his starting XV by lining up Marcus Smith at full-back rather than Freddie Steward, who had started all the high-stakes matches up to that point.
Less comfortable than the latter under high balls, Smith, usual fly-half unaccustomed to the full-back position, will bring England a new offensive dimension against a traditionally very playful Fijian team.
Versatile Elliot Daly returns to the team on the left wing, while Manu Tuilagi and Joe Marchant will partner in the centre. No change to report, however, among the eight forwards.
Line-up of the England XV against Fiji:
Smith – May, Marchant, Tuilagi, Daly – (o) Farrell (cap.), (m) Mitchell – Curry, Earl, Lawes – Chessum, Itoje – Cole, George, Genge
Subs: Dan, Marler, Sinckler, Martin, Vunipola, Care, Ford, Lawrence
