Owen And Billy Are Eddie Problems

Nick Cain arrives in Tokyo to find Eddie Jones confronted by some big selectorial decisions

Eddie Jones finds himself ambushed by a typhoon as he wrestles with unresolved selection issues that could be the difference between beating Australia or returning home as a busted flush.

The cancellation of the match with France has cost him his last chance for experimentation. So now what does he do about Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola, both established as world class during the high points of Jones’ but so far in Japan shadows of their finest form?

This was highlighted against Argentina, where the Saracens duo were a long way below par. Farrell, who with 841 points is second only to Jonny Wilkinson as England’s most prolific marksman, was on target with only half of his attempts at goal.

This may have been attributable, at least in part, to Tomas Lavinini slamming his shoulder into Farrell’s neck/jaw – although the England skipper insisted that he was not adversely affected. There were four first-half misses, three of them after the ‘hit’, and four successes from four in the second-half after he had more time to recuperate.

It might also explain why attack coach Scott Weismantel said this week that Farrell had told him he felt a bit ‘clunky’ at 12 – as in his timing and movement being laboured -- despite the six tries England scored against the Pumas.

This puts Farrell’s 10-12 partnership with George Ford under scrutiny, and rightly so, because since the big warmup win over Ireland the captain has been less of a fulcrum.

There is little doubt that Ford’s Six Nations rescue act against Scotland, prompting and then scoring the late try to earn a draw, reminded Jones of what he can do.

Yet, while Ford has flourished since then, helped by being on the front foot at 10 against the weaker opposition in the pool, and in the pre-tournament warm-ups, Farrell has been increasingly on the fringes – apart from being on the head-hunters’ hit-list.