Owen Farrell says his long-standing friendship with George Ford remains intact despite the intense scrutiny that has greeted England’s decision to change fly-halves for Saturday’s Rugby World Cup showdown against Wales.
Coach Stuart Lancaster has demoted Ford, his first choice in the position since last autumn and the player credited with igniting the England attack, and turned to Farrell to direct the critical Pool A match.
Alongside Sam Burgess’s presence at inside centre, the measure has been taken to stiffen the midfield defence in anticipation of the Jamie Roberts-led Welsh onslaught at Twickenham.
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Ford said he was “devastated and gutted” by his relegation to the bench, according to his father Mike, but Farrell said it was business as usual.
“We have been exactly the same. Absolutely normal. We talk about everything anyway, it’s pretty open between us,” Farrell said.
“It’s exactly the same as it was last week, as it was in the autumn when he got picked and I went on the bench. Exactly the same.”
Lancaster has been accused of abandoning his attacking principles for the first of two matches he has said will define his three-and-a-half year reign as coach, the second coming against Australia next week as three global powers struggle for two quarter-final berths from Pool A.
Ford has started 10 out of England’s past 11 matches and is considered a more creative and well-rounded player than the rugged Farrell.
“Every player’s different. George is a brilliant player and showed that in the Six Nations and in the last year, so I’ll try to bring what I can to the game,” Farrell said.
“People can say what they want. It is the people inside the camp that count to me, the people around me. External factors don’t matter to us.
“It doesn’t matter to me. It doesn’t motivate me. All I want to do is do my job for this team, like everybody has been doing over the past 12 weeks.”
Graham Rowntree offered a coach’s perspective on the biggest selection call of Lancaster’s stewardship.
“Owen has been exceptional for us coming off the bench and George has also been exceptional,” forwards coach Rowntree said.
“For this game, we have gone with this selection as a reflection of who we are playing against, simple as that. It’s not a 23-man job, it’s a 31-man job. You’ve got to choose the right tools for what’s in front of you. That’s what most teams do around the world, that’s selection.
“For this game, we’ve gone with those players. We could change it next week, but we are entitled to do so. It’s incorrect to just put out the same team every week.”
Farrell, who has amassed 307 points during his 33 caps, is ready to stop Roberts and his fellow Welsh wrecking balls George North and Toby Faletau when they begin their midfield assault.
“I’m looking to do my job. If they come down that channel, then it’s my job to stop them,” Farrell said.
When asked if his tenure as England coach will hinge on the outcome versus Wales, Lancaster said: “It was always going to be the case for this game and the one against Australia.
“Clearly, the selection has heightened it. If we win the game, it will be judged a success. If we lose the game, regardless of what selection I made, I’d be questioned.
“It will come down ultimately to the next two games. I understand the consequences and the stakes because it’s the World Cup.”
Meanwhile, it has been noted that Wales coach Warren Gatland has an outstanding record at Twickenham.
He masterminded three Premiership final triumphs in successive seasons with London Wasps, and he also oversaw a 2005 Heineken Cup final triumph against Toulouse, when current Wales assistant Rob Howley scored the Londoners’ winning try.
Gatland has also plotted two Wales wins at English rugby headquarters – in 2008 and 2012 – and he rarely gets it wrong on the big occasion. He is likely to relish tonight’s high-stakes encounter.
Saturday’s other matches
South Africa v Samoa
South Africa fly-half Handre Pollard, though still only 21, has been handed a heavy burden by his coach for their Pool B match against Samoa. Pollard, named World Rugby Junior Player of the Year for 2014, returns to the starting line-up for his 15th cap after ceding his place to Pat Lambie for the Springboks’ past two outings – their final World Cup warm-up win over Argentina in Buenos Aires last month and the 34-32 humbling to Japan last weekend. “I’ve said to Handre this game is going to be won or lost by him,” coach Heyneke Meyer said. Pollard teams up with scrum-half Fourie du Preez for only the second time since his debut against Scotland 17 months ago.
Italy v Canada
Canada’s all-time leading points scorer James Pritchard, who announced his international retirement last month, has been drafted into the Canucks’ squad after Liam Underwood was ruled out of the tournament. “He announced his retirement but he said if the opportunity came up in the World Cup, he was available, and he’s obviously been training and playing with (English club) Bedford,” Canada coach Kieran Crowley said this week. The 36-year-old Pritchard has played in three previous World Cups and could make an appearnace in his fourth when Canada meet Italy in a Pool D match in Leeds.
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