Dawson: Hard for Farrell to get back
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World Cup winner Matt Dawson is struggling to see how captain Owen Farrell gets back into the England team after George Ford's magnificent performance last weekend against Argentina.
Ford slotted all of England's 27 points from the boot, including a hat-trick of drop goals in England's 27-10 victory. With Ford's incredible form and cool management of England's backline, questions have been asked how Farrell fits back into the team after his four-game suspension is over.
Farrell is set to return for England's encounter against Chile on Sept 23 and while Dawson believes he'll start against the World Cup debutants he is unsure how the Saracens fly-half fits into the first choice XV for the final pool match against Samoa and then the knockout stages.
He said: “I think it's going to be a very interesting selection come quarter-final time. If the team go well against Japan, there is real momentum in that XV. Owen Farrell will of course be back in for the Chile game and maybe Samoa but it's a tricky one.
“They are going to thrash Chile, it doesn't matter what position he plays; he could play hooker, flanker, scrum-half, anywhere really and have a good performance against Chile as he's that sort of player.
“That England side at the moment looks really well connected with (Alex) Mitchell, Ford, (Manu) Tuilagi and Joe Marchant. Ford is in control. You'd significantly change the dynamic if you put Farrell back in. If you put (Danny) Care or (Ben) Youngs or Farrell around Ford you change the dynamic, maybe for the better but maybe for the worst. Do England want to change that dynamic?
“I would stick with the current trio, they look sharp, connected and in tune. That was a really big game last Saturday and they all looked connected. It's a massive call but is Owen Farrell's previous England performances worthy of getting into the side? I'm not sure.”
It was Dawson's pass that teed up Jonny Wilkinson's memorable drop goal against Australia to secure the World Cup win in 2003 and England's most capped scrum-half believes Alex Mitchell, who provided Ford with the platform for his trio of drop goals, is the man for England going forward despite the Northampton nine being originally left out of Steve Borthwick's squad.
He said: “The vast majority of people were surprised that Alex Mitchell wasn't included but he has got the shirt in a winning team. He's in charge of it and I don't see any reason why we should even contemplate another scrumhalf coming in if he's playing like how he is at the moment. It's time for him to embrace it and enjoy it and not worry about selection.
“Alex had to know where George was and had to fire it to him so he has as much time as possible to put it through. It's important he gets on with his job in rallying the forwards as if everyone's looking round saying we're going for a drop goal I can guarantee George will be under pressure and will miss by getting charged down. Alex was plowing the forwards on and getting them through the motions and then all of sudden the pair would have taken the decision for the drop goal which is why they were so effective.”
England's try scoring record is underwhelming to say the least with only five scored in their last five Tests. However, Dawson believes it's just about doing what it takes to win matches and focusing on going through each hurdle one game at a time.
He said: “Their attacking prowess is yet to come to the fore but everyone remembers who wins the World Cup and no one remembers how they won it. You might remember your own country, England supporters will know our route in 2003 but no one could tell me the route to the final Australia had in 1991 or 1999.
“It's about winning and I do not care how England do it. If it means they kick a load of penalties and drop goals and score the odd try great, if they scoring four of five tries also great. However it happens, win your games get to the knockout stages and focus on the next game. There's no point worrying about winning the trophy until you're in the final.
“You can get to the semi-finals and you never know but there are some brilliant sides out there. Out of England, Wales, Argentina and Australia, two of those sides are going to be in a semi-final so you'd fancy your chances. I can't see Argentina being better than the other three, so all of a sudden two from three are going into that semi-final. England need to back themselves that they are good enough to get to a semi-final and then you're playing against the big boys, the favourites of the tournament. A bounce of the ball, the odd red card, anything can happen.”
Matt Dawson has teamed up with The National Lottery to celebrate individuals across the four nations who have done extraordinary things in their communities and beyond, particularly showcasing the importance of funding for grassroots clubs like Saracens. The campaign shinesalightonhowthe£30m raised a week by National Lottery players goes towards good causes across the UK. For more, visit: https://www. lotterygoodcauses.org.uk
