In his latest column for Rugby Pass, Andy Goode has called for Eddie Jones to make four changes to his England starting line-up ahead of their Six Nations clash with France in Paris on Saturday.
He’s started off with the obvious change that has been called for from across the media this week before making a few surprising alterations.
Are Farrell and Ford destined for breakup? https://t.co/g8jYZLXIxM
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 6, 2018
“Jamie George has been the form hooker in the country for a long time now and he was good enough to start for the British and Irish Lions, so I would start him and I think you’ve got a ready made captain in Owen Farrell waiting to step up and replace him.
“I’d move him to fly half as well and pick Ben Te’o at inside centre. I think he deserves a run in the side now and the France game is the perfect time to start that run so that he can help to combat Mathieu Bastareaud as well.”
MORE STORIES:
-
The 50 greatest rugby players of the professional era
-
12 MOST GRUESOME rugby injuries
-
The Best Uncapped England Rugby XV
-
Picking A Combined Pacific Islanders XV
He added: “In my opinion, it’s time for Mike Brown to make way and for Anthony Watson to start at full back with Elliot Daly and Jonny May on the wings.”
“Even without Sam Underhill as an option, I would leave Robshaw out and go for Sam Simmonds at number seven with Nathan Hughes continuing at the base of the scrum.”
ANDY GOODE’S ENGLAND XV:
15 Anthony Watson
14 Elliot Daly
13 Jonathan Joseph
12 Ben Te’o
11 Jonny May
10 Owen Farrell
9 Danny Care
1 Mako Vunipola
2 Jamie George
3 Dan Cole
4 Joe Launchbury
5 Maro Itoje
6 Courtney Lawes
7 Sam Simmonds
8 Nathan Hughes