Eddie Jones hints that Owen Farrell could be stripped of England captaincy

The Aussie, who usually refutes any question the Saracens mans leadership, seemed open to naming a new captain.

“We’ll worry about that selection when selection comes,” Jones told The Times.

Precise details are still to be confirmed, but the indications are that Farrell requires an operation on an ankle injury suffered against Australia and will be out for 10-12 weeks. 

That means he should be returning around the time the Six Nations kicks off.

Next year, the opening fixture is against Scotland at Murrayfield on February 5 and after losing at home against the same opponents in the 2021 tournament, Jones will want to go to Edinburgh with his strongest side. 

The England captain would have hoped to play a much bigger on-field role. Unstinting team man as always but England actually looked a better team with him not on the field.

Replacement: George Ford

The 28-year-old’s uplift in form since being dropped by Jones has been incredible with a number of flawless performances in the Gallagher Premiership for Leicester. He feels like a more appropriate deputy for Marcus Smith, and has plenty of experience to pass on to the 22-year-old upstart.

Bit of a stinker all told. Started alright with a try against Tonga but two underwhelming performances followed. A couple of knock ons against the Springboks – the first of which will give him nightmares.

Replacement: Ollie Hassell-Collins

A 6ft 4in London Irish winger with lots of pace, Hassell-Collins has made seven clean breaks in this season’s Gallagher Premiership, scored two tries and covered 714 metres with the ball in hand – the second-highest figure in the competition. The 22-year-old has certainly done enough to warrant a look from the England boss.

The kamikaze kid seems to be more of a cautious kid these days. Slipping off more tackles that used to be dominant hits. 

Replacement: Ben Earl

Most other countries would dearly love to be able to pick a player of Earl’s calibre. A seriously quick, dynamic athlete, the 22-year-old has been in sensational form for. Sarries. It is odd that Earl has been chosen to play 13 Tests by Jones since first being selected to tour South Africa in 2018 but has yet to be trusted to make a single start.

Yet to make a real impact when given an opportunity and was lucky not to be yellow carded for his high hit on Eben Etzebeth against South Africa.

Replacements: Joe Launchbury

Set to make his Wasps comeback this month, he should come straight back into the England squad if he can get up to speed before the 2022 Six Nations kicks off.