Thursday 24 September 2015 00:47, UK
Stuart Lancaster has put his England career on the line with his decision to drop George Ford in favour of Owen Farrell, according to Sky Sports pundit Stuart Barnes.
Farrell is set be named at fly-half for the pivotal Pool A clash with Wales at Twickenham on Saturday in place of incumbent starter Ford, according to Sky sources.
With Bath centre Jonathan Joseph set to miss out, Sam Burgess will also come into the team at inside centre with Brad Barritt shifting outside into Joseph's No 13 berth.
The trio of Farrell, Burgess and Barritt gives England an ultra-physical midfield to combat the Welsh threat and signals a likely shift away from the more expansive approach which helped England score a record-breaking 18 tries in five matches during the Six Nations.
"It is the biggest call of Stuart Lancaster's career," Barnes said, speaking to Sky Sports News HQ.
"George Ford struggled in the last game but the pack were going in the wrong direction. Had Owen Farrell started and Ford had come on, I think the impact would have been exactly the same.
Ford has made himself England's No 1 player. He has got vision, he has got great technique and he can run a field.
"Ford has made himself England's No 1 player. He has got vision, he has got great technique and he can run a field. But Lancaster has decided to go for psychological warfare against Wales.
"I think it is the wrong call but it is a brave call from Lancaster and his head is on the line with this one."
Wales have developed a fearsome rush defence under assistant coach Shaun Edwards and Barnes feels Ford's superior passing ability could have been the key to England's hopes of unlocking it.
Barnes said: "I think Wales will like it because Wales think physically they are a match for anyone so Jamie Roberts against Burgess - 'we'll take you on head-to-head'. [Wales fly-half Dan] Biggar is a big man - he won't worry about the physical power of Farrell.
"The problem for Wales has been Ford's ability to weight that pass and delay it late because Wales play a very aggressive rush defence.
"Shaun Edwards will tell you if you have great technique against a rush defence you can tear it to pieces. England have given up on that technique."
