Regular first-choice Owen Farrell, England’s lead goalkicker when fit, will be one of the three men who will be vying for the No. 10 shirt.

Consistency rather than a fondness for the “flash stuff” has been the guiding principle behind England coach Stuart Lancaster’s selections at fly-half for next month’s internationals at Twickehham.

Regular first-choice Owen Farrell, England’s lead goalkicker when fit, as well as George Ford and Stephen Myler are the three men who will vie for the No 10 shirt when world champions New Zealand, South Africa and Samoa visit ‘headquarters’ next month.

That meant there was no place in the 33-man squad announced by Lancaster on Wednesday for either Freddie Burns or Danny Cipriani.

Burns started England’s two of England’s most recent Tests, away to the All Blacks in June while Cipriani impressed when called off the bench.

Given a choice between a ‘kicking’ or ‘running’ outside-half, England have tended to opt for the control offered by the former rather than the flair of the latter.

Rob Andrew relegated Stuart Barnes to a handful of caps in the 1980s and 1990s before the remorseless Jonny Wilkinson’s drop-goal saw the Red Rose brigade to World Cup glory in 2003.

 

Wilkinson benchmark  

There have long been concerns that England, who boast a powerful pack, lack the kind of creative spark behind the scrum that will see them challenge the game’s very best nations when they stage next year’s World Cup.

But as far as Lancaster is concerned what he most wants from his stand-off is control. “To be the best it’s not about the flash stuff, it’s actually about skill execution and everything done at a very high level,” he said.

“If we take Jonny Wilkinson as the benchmark, he didn’t get everything right all the time and it wasn’t always flash, but he was incredibly consistent in everything he did.

“Game management is one of the key things that we look for in our fly-halves.

“There’s the ability to execute an accurate kicking game to relieve pressure.

“Goal-kicking is a key area, as is defence and the ability to stop on the gain line.

“These are all parts of the jigsaw we look at, as well as the bits of magic that all players do.

“There’s a package really that we need to see, not just from Danny but from all the players.

“Some players have had standout games. It’s then backing that up, that standout game, with another.”

Farrell, whom Lancaster said could be moved to inside centre in order to play Ford in the same side, has started just one match for Saracens this season and only returned from being sidelined with a thigh strain as a late substitute against Clermont in a European Champions Cup tie last weekend.

The 23-year-old is set to face Munster on Friday but for all his recent lack of game time, Lancaster has no qualms about selecting Farrell for England’s end-of-year opener against New Zealand on November 8.

“I trust Owen. He’s diligent and does his preparation. He’ll be ready,” Lancaster said.

Meanwhile the absence through injury of Manu Tuilagi has further complicated England’s perennial problem of selecting a settled midfield.

But fit-again Saracens star Brad Barritt, regarded as England’s best defensive midfielder could partner Kyle Eastmond, an attacking talent but shown to be defensively suspect against New Zealand.

“Brad’s the best defensive centre in the Premiership, there’s no doubt about that,” said Lancaster.

“The way Kyle Eastmond has bounced back from the third Test in New Zealand has been exceptional,” he added.

“What he’s shown is his ability to take the ball to the line and make good decisions off the back of it.”

Tuilagi’s absence leaves England looking to replace his pace and power, with Lancaster believing wings Marland Yarde and Semesa Rokoduguni could fill the gap.

“When you lose Manu, what are you going to need? You are going to need punch in the backline. And Marland and Roko seem to be the guys who can give us that,” Lancaster said.

 

 

 

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