Farrell's fate means England must get their heads around new order - and fast

14 August 2023 , 07:18

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Farrell is sent to 'bunker' by ref Nika Amashukeli, where his yellow is upgraded to red (Image: TOM SANDBERG/PPAUK/REX/Shutterstock)

From the moment England came into World Cup camp Owen Farrell was the life and soul.

The captain and driving force, leader and emotional barometer of Steve Borthwick’s misfiring team.

While the wagons were circled and nothing given away by coaches and players alike, Farrell took it upon himself to speak of the opportunity ahead and why we should all feel pumped.

His sense of excitement, added to the form he showed in springtime driving Saracens to Premiership title glory, was one of the few reasons for England fans to be cheerful heading to France.

And then Taine Basham ran at him on Saturday as the game clock ticked past the hour mark and all that hope was stopped in its tracks as decisively as the marauding Welshman himself.

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Farrell is now odds-on to miss the start of the World Cup and to have to sit out one or both of England’s defining pool games against Argentina and Japan. He could be banned for up to six weeks.

Fateful moment Farrell's shoulder makes contact with Taine Basham's head (TOM SANDBERG/PPAUK/REX/Shutterstock)

“Let's wait and see what happens,” said Borthwick, not wanting to confront the looming reality of having to replace his skipper and playmaker.

He will know soon enough, with the disciplinary hearing tomorrow and a verdict to follow soon after.

He already understands that Farrell can’t sign up for ‘tackle school’ with the reduction to suspension that permits, as he has already played that card this year.

Freddie Steward, Ellis Genge and Farrell in sin bin at same time (Getty Images)

And that the pride of Wigan has a rap sheet unlikely to elicit any sympathy when it comes to sentence.

So what England must do is get their heads around the fact change is coming.

That they dug themselves out of such a deep hole to win on Saturday is commendable but does not alter the fact their attack remains all at sea.

Freddie Steward was the third of four yellow cards brandished to England players (Garry Bowden/REX/Shutterstock)

The bookies have taken a dim view of three tries scored in four games, with 15 conceded, lengthening their World Cup odds to 12/1.

Victory, courtesy of a late Maro Itoje try and George Ford penalty, might have spared them the humiliation of falling to a worst-ever ninth place in the world rankings.

A standout display on full debut from Ben Earl undoubtedly provides some hope, as does the sharpness of Elliot Daly. But these are two pieces of a jigsaw missing so many more.

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Jack van Poortvliet is in danger of being ruled out of World Cup with an ankle injury (The RFU Collection via Getty Ima)

There is further concern over scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet, who sustained a serious ankle injury and was carried off.

Alex Mitchell, the Northampton No9, is next cab off the rank and has been placed on standby.

Adversity will bond England tighter, as it did in the last 15 on Saturday when they came up with their Houdini act.

But this is a squad with a mountain to climb - and it starts in Dublin on Saturday against the world’s best team.

Alex Spink