Borthwick explains dropping Smith and naming Farrell as England No10

England boss Steve Borthwick has explained his reason for shelving the 10/12 combination of Marcus Smith and Owen Farrell. The duo had been paired together for the last eight Test matches but the new head coach has decided not to give a partnership that has struggled to properly gel its nine successive start.

Instead, Farrell will wear the No10 shirt versus Italy at Twickenham in Sunday’s Guinness Six Nations round two encounter, with Smith providing cover from the bench. It will be Farrell’s first start as the England out-half since the 2021 Six Nations loss to Scotland, and this huge decision by Borthwick has come following a heated debate about the ongoing merit of starting two out-halves alongside each other.

The likes of Clive Woodward, Lawrence Dallaglio, Stuart Barnes and Andy Goode were amongst those calling for a change to a partnership that was the idea of Eddie Jones. He first named Smith with Farrell together in the November 2021 Autumn Nations Series game versus the Wallabies before ankle injuries to Farrell scuppered its use until the following July.

It was in Australia, across the entire three-Test series, that the 10/12 Smith/Farrell axis was rekindled and it then continued throughout the four-game Autumn Nations Series prior to the dismissal of Jones as the head coach.

Rather than change it up, Borthwick persisted with this tactic, selecting Smith at No10 with Farrell at No12 in last weekend’s championship opener versus Scotland, but defeat in that match has now prompted the major change in tack which was the main focus of his Friday afternoon media briefing.

That press conference followed the announcement of an England team showing three changes in total from round one. Inside centre Ollie Lawrence replaced Smith, with Farrell switching into the No10 vacancy; Henry Slade took the No13 shirt from Joe Marchant, and Jack Willis replaced Ben Curry at openside. Four questions regarding Smith were immediately put to Borthwick about his benching of the out-half. Here is how that conversation unfolded:

Journalist: Why have you decided to go for Owen Farrell over Marcus Smith at 10?

Borthwick: I have decided to change that combination this week. As ever when I pick a team I look at the plan we want to play against a specific opposition and certainly, that is what I have explained to the players, that that’s the way the team will be picked and that is the decision I made the way want to play this week. It’s fantastic to welcome Henry Slade back. He is a player that has played very well, played well for his club [Exeter], has great attributes in the centre there, fantastic left foot which gives us another aspect, another strength to the team. Ollie Lawrence has played really well all season for his club and he is certainly a player on form, so we have got some exciting players there in the centre and that is why I decided to make the change.

Journalist: The fly-half selection, that is a short-term selection just for this game rather than a change in policy?

Borthwick: My policy is always I pick a team for the game we are playing. I have been very clear that every game matters for England. I am not looking to games beyond or aspects in months to come. I focus on this week and that is what I am doing with this team and is something I have said to the team from day one.

Journalist: Do you feel Owen Farrell’s best position is fly-half?

Borthwick: I feel this is a team that is right for this game and I feel blessed that we have got some fantastic fly-halves. Owen’s ability to play 1o/12, Marcus is a player, Fin Smith has been in the squad, George Ford is back on the pitch. We have got some fantastic fly-halves in this country which is brilliant for the competition for places. We want that across the team.

Journalist: How did Marcus Smith take the news because he has made that 10 shirt his own over the last 18 months?

Borthwick: Marcus has been brilliant; every player has been brilliant having the conversation around selection. As a player, I have been in that conversation on the other side of it as well. I have been the one who has received and I remember them - I remember the conversations when you are being told you're selected, been told you're captain, been told you're not selected, you’re on the bench, whatever it may be. I have been in each of those situations and I have empathy for every player in that situation. What I want to build here is a squad with the England team where some players at different times will have a different role to play, but we are all moving towards building a team we want and that is what we want to do this week. We have got a team that I picked and I feel it is the right team for how I want to play against a specific opposition [Italy].