CHRIS HEWETT

THERE’S a question out there that dare not speak its name, but we’ll ask it anyway: is Owen Farrell flirting with the past tense as a first-choice England international?
Marcus Smith’s recent impact as a starting No.10 cements his reputation as one of the best two outside-halves in the country, and as the other one cannot be Farrell on the grounds that George Ford will never be third best as a playmaking tactician while he has breath in his lungs, the injured skipper has a problem to solve.
This column has argued many a time that Farrell is an inside centre first and last....