Farrell dropped as Saffa lock gets England recall

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England captain Owen Farrell has been dropped for Saturday’s Six Nations match against France, but coach Steve Borthwick has reinforced the pack with a South African tight forward.

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Farrell, 31, will start on the bench behind flyhalf Marcus Smith, with former Western Province lock David Ribbans named in the squad and prop forward Ellis Genge appointed captain for the Twickenham clash against the reigning champions.

Ribbans, born in Somerset West, made his Test debut for England last November, but was left out of Borthwick’s original Six Nations squad.

“The players selected to face our visitors are again a reflection of what I see to be the right balance of personnel for the challenge we face in this game,” said Borthwick. “Marcus Smith starts at flyhalf and Dave Ribbans returns to the matchday 23. Congratulations to Ellis Genge, who will captain the side for the first time.”

It is the first time Farrell, a veteran of more than 100 Tests, has been omitted from a full-strength England side since their first match of the 2015 World Cup.

Smith started at flyhalf, with Farrell at inside centre, for Borthwick’s first game in charge, a tournament-opening 29-23 defeat by Scotland at Twickenham last month, but the coach restored Farrell to the No 10 shirt for the subsequent wins over Italy and Wales.

The 24-year-old Smith was released to play for club side Harlequins against Exeter last week and responded with a fine attacking display while landing five of six goal kicks.

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The once-reliable Farrell has enjoyed a meagre 47% success rate off the tee in the opening three rounds of the Six Nations.

Smith was the only change to the England starting XV that won 20-10 away to Wales last time out. That victory would have been more emphatic had Farrell not missed four of six shots at goal.

Farrell follows Manu Tuilagi and Ben Youngs among senior players dropped by Borthwick since he replaced Eddie Jones as England coach in December.

France, who along with England and Scotland are on 10 points behind Grand Slam-chasing Ireland, named their side earlier on Thursday. Powerful centre Jonathan Danty was recalled in one of three changes to the team that beat Scotland.

France have not won a Six Nations match at Twickenham since 2005.

ENGLAND
15 Freddie Steward, 14 Max Malins, 13. Henry Slade, 12 Ollie Lawrence, 11 Anthony Watson, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Jack van Poortvliet, 8 Alex Dombrandt, 7 Jack Willis, 6 Lewis Ludlam, 5 Ollie Chessum, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Jamie George, 1 Ellis Genge (c).
Subs: 16 Jack Walker, 17 Mako Vunipola, 18 Dan Cole, 19 David Ribbans, 20 Ben Curry, 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 Owen Farrell, 23 Henry Arundell.

© Agence France-Presse

Photo: Glyn KIRK / POOL / AFP

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