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Former IRB Player of the Year nominee Owen Farrell will wear 12 for England this weekend. David Davies
Pressure

Ford named at 10 as England look to end five-game losing streak

Stuart Lancaster has shifted Owen Farrell to 12 for his side’s clash with Samoa this weekend.

GEORGE FORD IS set to make his first Test start after being selected at fly-half in a revamped England side to play Samoa at Twickenham on Saturday.

Ford, all of whose four previous Test appearances have come as a replacement, now finds himself in the number 10 shirt with regular fly-half Owen Farrell moved across to inside centre by England coach Stuart Lancaster despite unimpressive showings in this month’s defeats by world champions New Zealand and South Africa

Farrell played the first two matches of his England career, in 2012, at inside centre when he was also alongside Brad Barritt, who is again set to be his midfield partner against Samoa this weekend.

Longtime friends Farrell and Ford played youth rugby together and helped England Under-20s reach the final of the 2011 Junior World Championship.

It’s great to give George a start in this series after he missed the summer tour through injury,” Lancaster said in a RFU statement.

“George has been impressive in camp and is now fully up to speed with the game plan and is ready to run the game. Owen switches to 12 and I’m sure will support George well.”

In all, Lancaster has made six changes, including Farrell’s positional switch, to the side beaten 31-28 by the Springboks last weekend as 2015 World Cup hosts England look to end a run of five straight defeats.

Rugby Union - QBE International 2014 - England v South Africa - Twickenham George Ford is at out-half for England. David Davies David Davies

In the backs, Ben Youngs comes in at scrum-half following Danny Care’s mediocre form in the first two Tests of a November campaign which England finish with next week’s clash against 2015 pool rivals Australia.

With Kyle Eastmond ruled out with concussion, Farrell has been moved to inside centre leaving specialist midfielder Billy Twelvetrees on the bench.

‘Physical presence’

Up front, England captain Chris Robshaw is the only surviving member of a back-row where Ben Morgan has been promoted from the bench in place of Billy Vunipola at No 8 and James Haskell starts at blindside flanker instead of Tom Wood.

There is one change too in the front row, with Rob Webber coming off the bench as the run-on hooker and Dylan Hartley demoted to the bench after receiving a needless yellow card against the Springboks.

James Haskell and Ben Morgan have been in great form and I’m sure they will bring their physical presence to the game,” Lancaster said.

“Hooker is another competitive position and we believe Rob Webber is ready for the start and will continue the progress he made on the New Zealand tour.

“Those selected have a great opportunity to show what they can do against what will be a highly motivated Samoa team.”

Rugby Union - James Haskell James Haskell is back in the starting XV. David Davies David Davies

England have suffered three-point defeats in both their Twickenham encounters so far this month, losing 24-21 to New Zealand before last week’s reverse against the Springboks, although late scores by Lancaster’s side in each of those matches have put a Red Rose gloss on the final result.

Their current run of five straight defeats — albeit four were against the All Blacks — is England’s worst since they suffered seven successive losses in 2006.

However, England have won all six of their previous Tests against Samoa and defeat by the Pacific Islanders on Saturday would constitute a huge upset.

England team to face Samoa on Saturday:

15. Mike Brown
14. Anthony Watson
13. Brad Barritt
12. Owen Farrell
11. Jonny May
10. George Ford
9. Ben Youngs

1. Joe Marler
2. Rob Webber
3. David Wilson
4. Dave Attwood
5. Courtney Lawes
6. James Haskell
7. Chris Robshaw (capt)
8. Ben Morgan

Replacements: Dylan Hartley, Matt Mullan, Kieran Brookes, George Kruis, Tom Wood, Richard Wigglesworth, Billy Twelvetrees, Marland Yarde.

- © AFP, 2014

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