Pruning the Red Rose

Challenges aplenty for interim coach Stuart Lancaster as he and his newly formed team tip toe through the selectorial minefield. Should they pick a young, fresh faced legion of twenty somethings to get hijacked by the Scots at Murrayfield ? Or do they play it safe to get the new regime moving forward with some wins, then evolve over time? Go back to a thirtysomething in Charlie Hodgson at 10, or take a punt on Owen Farrell ?

Injuries may force their hand - with no Wilkinson or Tindall ("retired from active duty"), Tuilagi or Flood (crocked), the midfield has to be reshaped anyway. Farrell has to worth a look. He is calm under pressure, and has the ability to see and create space in a crowded midfield. England badly need a controlling force to work in tandem with Flood - when he recovers. The question will remain - which of the two is a 10, and which is a 12 ? Same old, same old. The point is that Lancaster and the rest of us will never know the answer to that question until Farrell gets his exposure at the highest level. After all, a year ago, who would have imagined that Rhys Priestland would be one of the top 10's in international rugby ?