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Farrell replaces Ford at fly-half for England's RWC quarter-final

Farrell replaces Ford at fly-half for England's RWC quarter-final

By Navitalai Naivalurua
14/10/2023
[Image: bbc]

Owen Farrell will replace George Ford at fly-half for England's Rugby World Cup quarter-final against Fiji, with Marcus Smith starting at full-back.

Freddie Steward - England men's player of the year for the past two years - has been left out of the matchday 23.

Ford started three of England's four pool games at No.10, with Farrell suspended for the first two matches.

The fly-half now drops to the bench, with Joe Marchant and Manu Tuilagi in the centre for Monday's game.

Jonny May and Elliot Daly will start on the wing in Marseille, while England's forward pack is unchanged.

Steve Borthwick has restored Farrell and Smith to the positions they held in England's 71-0 win against Chile.

Scrum-half Danny Care and centre Ollie Lawrence are the other backs on England's bench.

England will meet Fiji at 3am Monday.

In other RWC quarter finals, Wales will play Argentina at 3am tomorrow, Ireland will take on the All Blacks at 7am tomorrow and hosts France will play South Africa at 7am next Monday.

England (15-1):

Marcus Smith; Jonny May, Joe Marchant, Manu Tuilagi, Elliot Daly; Owen Farrell (capt), Alex Mitchell; Ben Earl, Tom Curry, Courtney Lawes; Ollie Chessum, Maro Itoje; Dan Cole, Jamie George, Ellis Genge

Replacements: Theo Dan, Joe Marler, Kyle Sinckler, George Martin, Billy Vunipola, Danny Care, George Ford, Ollie Lawrence

[Source: BBC]

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