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'Run the game for him': Why Eddie Jones wants Farrell next to Marcus Smith

Marcus Smith and Owen Farrell /PA

Eddie Jones has responded to criticism over the selection of Owen Farrell as England captain despite the Saracens star not playing since the Autumn against Australia in an interview with BBC Sport.

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Farrell has been sidelined with injury since but Jones has backed the 30-year-old as ‘the right guy’ for the job of England captain, and also as a key man to unlock Marcus Smith’s potential.

Jones claimed Smith needs a 12 next to him that ‘can run the game’ and that is the role that the experience of Farrell will bring.

“At the moment he’s the right guy for the job,” Jones said of Farrell’s captaincy selection to BBC Sport.

“You talk about Marcus Smith, Owen’s going to be an important player for Marcus. Marcus could be an absolutely brilliant 10 so he needs to have a 12 next to him that can run the game for him and that’s where Owen is so good.”

When questioned about when Farrell’s ‘credit in the bank’ will run out and his selection based on form, Jones said it is a balance they make for all players.

“That’s a judgement you make and it’s something we are assessing all the time, for all the players,” Jones explained.

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“Your 100 per cent right, selection is always about historical form, it’s about current form, and it’s about the potential of how you can improve.

“What we saw with Owen in November, the short time he played, was really positive. He came back in rejuvenated, and now it’s the opportunity for those players to come back. We’ve seen it in November with Jamie George, how positive it was when he came back, and Owen showed that in the Australian game.

“I’ve got no doubt he can go no and play really well in the Six Nations.”

Fans online weren’t so impressed with Jones’ assertion that Farrell is needed to guide Smith, with many sure that the Harlequins flyhalf would be fine without him. They labelled Jones’ comments ‘ridiculous’ and ‘absolute comedy gold’.

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PM 50 minutes ago
Why Henry Pollock's x-factor could earn him a Lions Test start

Nick,

I am a long suffering England fan, who has had to endure watching 4 years of dull rugby, poor selections and painful defeats. Steve Borthwick talks about GPS and picks squads by numbers and then we put in a poor performance on the pitch - it’s been a consistent trend.


Something changed in the Six Nations and we totally changed our style (literally overnight) and played some really good footie, which finally felt like positive rugby for a change.


Genge has regained his pore-Covid form and is looking back to his best and is head and shoulders above Porter.


Chessum has had a good year and hasn’t played a poor International game this season.


Tom Curry was outstanding in the 6 Nations but they have been playing him at 6, wheras he is better at 7 and is lethal at the breakdown.


Tom Willis was brought into the starting team at 8 and has been one of the best England players over the last year, who should have been on this Lions tour at 8. Earl had his best game since 2020 last week - not sure 1 game warrants Lions selection over a poor combination side and he is certainly second choice for his club 7 country behind Willis.


Pollock will be a good player but like all young emerging players, he is inconsistent and can go quiet in games, which is why Curry should be the starter at 7. He brings energy to games, which is why he is good from the bench but there is an argument to say he is the 5th best England openside (Curry x2, Underhill & Earl are currently better) but will improve over the next 5 years. We just need to stop the media building him up for a fall, let him play and develop and you will see a sensational Henry Pollock for the Lions in 4 years time.


Lions will be too powerful over 80 mins, so doesn’t really matter who they pick. Just please don’t put too much hype on Pollock. His 20 mins of International rugby going into this tour were positive but the media caused a frenzy and no other player would be selected on this basis.


Let’s enjoy the rugby and give Pollock the space and time he requires.

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