06 February 2023 , 13:10
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England rugby have a problem to solve regarding the partnership of Marcus Smith and Owen Farrell - a conundrum which has been compared to one the football team had to face back in the day.
The pair played in England's backline in the disappointing defeat to Scotland this past weekend. The skipper played at inside centre on Saturday, while Smith played at fly-hald, but the duo did not quite click together again.
Post match, former Wales captain Sam Warburton said the ongoing discussion reminds him of the debate about whether former England footballers Frank Lampard and Steve Gerrard should have played together as the pair often struggled to bring their best when on the pitch at the same time.
“It reminds me of the England debate in football about 10 years ago with Lampard and Gerrard,” the 34-year-old told BBC Sport.
“You’ve got two world class players, but can they go together? England have got two world class 10s, but should they play together? One of England’s tries, Farrell was at 10 five phases in a row and they scored, so I’d argue do you need two playmakers to find space? I don’t think you do.
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“It’s just how they fit them into the team and if everyone was fit, you’d think that it would be one or the other and that ruthless decision might have to come sooner rather than later.” The likes of Sir Clive Woodward, Brian Moore and Stuart Barnes have all questioned whether Borthwick should persist with the Smith-Farrell axis and Former England scrum-half Matt Dawson has joined the chorus.
Dawson feels Farrell and Smith's partnership has not clicked enough to make England "a good enough threat to compete at the highest level". In a column for BBC Sport, Dawson said: "I would not be quick to criticise England's defeat by Scotland. Overall it was a fair performance, but there is one looming area of concern for me - and I am sure for many England fans - after that match. New head coach Steve Borthwick has boxed himself in by choosing Owen Farrell as his captain.
Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard struggled to gel in midfield together for England (Press Association)"Farrell played at inside centre on Saturday, resuming his partnership with fly-half Marcus Smith, and as happened so often in 2022, the duo did not quite click. I cannot see how that midfield is going to be a good enough threat to compete at the highest level going forward. I understand that Farrell brings a huge amount to the team. I am just not sure we should be asking him to play at 12 when he has been playing better at 10 for his club Saracens."
Borthwick spent just 11 days in camp with his players prior to their first Six Nations match. After the tough loss, the new head coach said his team have "to go through some pain" in order to grow, but later praised his charges for their "magnificent response" after conceding points against Scotland.
"There are multiple areas we have tried to change. You saw some improvement in the scrum against Scotland which I was pleased about because it has been ranked as the worst scrum in tier-one rugby," said Borthwick.
"I feel disappointed with the result. I asked the players to do some things differently. I have asked the players to play a new way. I have got to get the players to believe in themselves and get the players to bring their strengths to the pitch.
"I want them to play to the best of themselves, which we haven't seen them do for a while. I think you saw an improvement in that regard against Scotland." England are in action again on Sunday against Italy where they will be favourites to secure a much needed win.