England's Owen Farrell decision leaves ex-international 10s divided

Former Test fly-halves Andy Goode and Dan Biggar are both sat on either side of the fence regarding Steve Borthwick’s decision to omit Owen Farrell in his latest England training squad.

The England head coach named a 36-man training squad (with teenage sensation Noah Caluori as an additional extra) on Sunday that have assembled this week before the final squad for the Autumn Nations Series is named.

Former captain Farrell was not part of the squad despite his return to the Gallagher PREM this season, with Borthwick opting for George Ford, Fin Smith and Marcus Smith at fly-half, and Fraser Dingwall, Max Ojomoh, Ollie Lawrence, Henry Slade and possibly Tommy Freeman as his centre options.

Having only played at inside centre this season for Saracens, both Goode and Biggar discounted 112-cap Englishman’s chances of making the squad as a fly-half when discussing the selection on The Rugby Pod this week.

Where the Englishman and Welshman are divided, however, is Farrell’s usefulness as an inside centre in the squad.

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“You could make the argument for him, not at 10 because he obviously hasn’t played there, for his leadership and his ability and what he did in those short little snippets for the Lions,” Goode said. “But if you’re looking at him as a centre, I would comfortably pick a lot of the other guys that are ahead of him at the minute.

“He’s played pretty well for Sarries. You look at the centre options – Henry Slade was wicked at the weekend, and people think he’s had his time with England, you could argue Owen Farrell has had his time with England in the same breath. Slade was outstanding, Dingwall is a quality operator for Northampton and has been brilliant for England when he’s played. Ojomoh and Ollie Lawrence have been on fire this year. Then you’ve got Tommy Freeman, talk about him playing in the centres as well.

“While I get the clamour because Faz is a big name, he was poor against Quins last week, he was good against Sale at the weekend, but you’re not thinking he’s that far above everyone else on form that he has to be in the squad.”

Biggar replied: “Does this selection not make more sense than the summer selection in terms of where England are short?

“Where England are short at the minute, I’d say, is 12s. This is the autumn where you do not take any chances. You’ve still got two more Six Nations, another autumn campaign, a summer tour, whatever happens with the nations series. This was tailor-made for Owen Farrell. There are not a lot of options at 12.

“I think he’s come back, and he wasn’t anywhere near his best against Quins, but I just think he’s looked fit, he’s looked hungry, he’s looked confident, back to a little bit of the Owen Farrell in that Saracens environment. The big talk about the summer was that we want Owen Farrell in there for his leadership and his experience.

“You want to get near the top in the world, same as Ireland do, to make sure you give yourself the best draw at the World Cup, so you get your best players, your most experienced players in there now and then you think Owen doesn’t come into the Six Nations or the summer. It’s a big gamble when they’ve picked six wingers and two 12, in a position where they are probably lightest.”