The 3 big questions Lancaster must face

OPINION BY DAVID EMERY – Editor in chief
Stuart Lancaster‘s stewardship of the England rugby team is in crisis ten months before the World Cup.
Defeat by South Africa at Twickenham yesterday raises the real prospect of England losing to all three Southern Hemisphere super powers this autumn.
Yes, the latest defeat by the Boks was by only three points – 31-28. Yet such arithmetic flies in the face of the performance where 14 points were scored through rolling mauls while 18 stone South African lock Victor Matfield was in the bin.
A substandard Samoa side come to Twickenham to offer some respite next Saturday but then it is the turn of Australia, England’s deadly Pool rivals next autumn.
In the meantime,  Lancaster must ask himself three key questions:
1.Why did he persevere with an out-of-form Owen Farrell at fly-half?
Farrell has hardly played this season after injury. Even at his best he is not a line-breaking 10. His strengths are metronomic kicking and strong defence. The opportunity was clearly there to give George Ford a run or rehabilitate Danny Cipriani.
2.Why did he pick Brad Barritt at outside centre for the past two matches?
Barritt is a strong, wholehearted player, a defensive No 12 who will not let you down. He is not a No13. He does not have the gas. By picking him, presumably, to keep the position warm for the return of Manu Tuilagi,  Lancaster  deprived himself of  the option of observing a truly dangerous 13 such as Jonathan Joseph, or even showing some highly original thinking by playing speedster Jonny May at outside centre.
3.Apparently, you need exceptional circumstances to call up Steffon Armitage from Toulon. What are more exceptional than attempting to win the World Cup in your own country?
Chris Robshaw is a fine, committed player, a shining figurehead as captain. Play him at No6 and bring Armitage in at No7. Come to that you could do worse than send for his brother Delon as full-back cover.