"10 week ban" - Steve Borthwick identifies replacement for Owen Farrell if he's ruled out

England head coach Steve Borthwick is putting contingency plans in place just in case his captain Owen Farrell receives a significant ban.

The fly-half carved his place in history as the inaugural English player to witness a yellow card’s transformation into a red card, a consequence of the newly introduced ‘Bunker’ review mechanism. This pivotal verdict arose from a high tackle on Taine Basham.

Former international Andy Goode believes the skippers latest dismissal should lead to him being ruled out of the Rugby World Cup.

Goode wrote: "Whether it’s the England captain, a Pacific Islander or a player making his Premiership debut in the dock, the hit that got Owen Farrell sent off should be punished with at least a 10-week ban.

"World Rugby changed its high tackle sanction framework precisely for incidents like this and it’s the type of tackle that they are rightly trying very hard to eradicate from the game.

"Farrell is upright, out of control and flies in with a swinging arm intended to put Charlie Atkinson into next week or take his head off. It’s not just a mistimed tackle, it’s a horrific-looking hit. He’s completely blindsided him.

"You can look at it from every angle possible in terms of the incident itself and the regulations and framework but there is just no mitigation whatsoever."

RUCK understands that Northampton Saints youngster Fin Smith would be the next cab off the rank if Farrell is ruled out the tournament.

Smith, grandson of former Scotland and British & Irish Lions loosehead prop Tom Elliot, arrived at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens from Worcester Warriors where he progressed through the Academy set-up, after beginning his club rugby at Shipston-on-Stour in Warwickshire before joining Warwick School.

Meanwhile, Ellis Genge would be installed as captain for the tournament.

We have curated a compilation of individuals who, through their actions on and off the field, have acquired a regrettable reputation within the game. Their notoriety extends beyond specific fan bases or clubs; it encompasses the entire rugby community.

Amusingly, Biggar epitomizes the kind of player who manages to invoke strong dislike until he becomes a part of your own team.

Over the course of his career, this fly-half has exhibited a growing penchant for passionately berating referees.

This behavior has reached such heights that Glove39, a renowned online personality and unwavering fan of Scotland, cleverly crafted a video titled 'birdman.'

In this video, Glove39 humorously mimicked Biggar's habitual arm-raising expression of frustration directed at officials.

The expert in unsportsmanlike behavior. Sexton is skilled in exaggerating contact or distracting officials, knowing precisely when to employ his repertoire of underhanded tactics.

His most recent example of on-field nouse came against Wales just last weekend. The yellow card handed to Liam Williams in the 65th minute for a high hit on Sexton took a while to come as it was reviewed from multiple angles by the officials.

Wales fans piled in on Sexton after the Williams sin-binning, with one writing: 'Sexton play acted a head injury. Blatant cheating.'

Another Wales fan vented: 'That Liam Williams yellow card shows why rugby will be dead in a few years – nothing wrong with Liams body shape and Sexton play acting sums up how rugby has drastically changed for the worse. It’s a mockery to the real injuries.'

Another commented on Sexton being seen winking after the card, and said that his behaviour would "destroy the spectacle that is International rugby"

White has become arguably the most unpopular player in world rugby over the past 12 months..

Last year, White fell about like a lion had attempted to rip off his face after Faf de Klerk accidentally made contact with it while attempting to dislodge the ball out of his hands as he attempted a pass.

After consulting with the television match official, referee Paul Williams adjudicated that this warranted a yellow card for de Klerk.

This decision sent the world of rugby into meltdown, with criticism coming from all quarters aimed at White for bringing the game into disrepute.

The world Cup-winning lock is undoubtedly world-class, but he is also one of the dirtiest players in the sport. If your team has played against him, you will not be a fan. A proper sh**house, but huge biceps.

Could it be anybody else? Farrell fits the label “our guy” better than most, meaning you love to hate him unless he’s in your squad.

Then you’d go to the end’s of the earth to defend him. The England captain, also known as 'Shoulder boy' for his high tackling, does himself no favours with his poor tackling technique.

And that came to a head yesterday when he was sent off for a high tackle against Wales.

Farrell could potentially miss the start of the World Cup as a result of his dismissal for a high tackle on Taine Basham in the 19-17 win at Twickenham.

England's first World Cup match is against Argentina on 9 September.