Farrell and Smith face training ground battle for keys to No10

ARCUS SMITH and Owen Farrell are going head-to-head in training this week for England’s starting fly-half berth against France.

- Nick Purewal

Harlequins playmaker Smith and England captain Farrell are tussling for the No10 shirt to take on Les Bleus in the Six Nations clash at Twickenham on Saturday.

Smith’s impressive showing in Harlequins’ 40-5 victory over Exeter last weekend has pushed the 24-year-old into strong contention for a starting berth.

Head coach Steve Borthwick could pair Smith and Farrell at 10 and 12, but that would break up the burgeoning centre partnership of Ollie Lawrence and Henry Slade.

Smith could yet start, with Farrell coming off the bench to close out the clash as the captaincy is not thought to leave the Saracens stalwart an automatic selection.

Smith missed England’s training camp in Brighton last week, released to play for Quins, but Farrell insisted that has not left him playing catch-up on plans for France.

“He didn’t miss too much last week, I don’t think individually. It’s more progression on what we’ve already been doing,” said Farrell.