Rugby World Cup: Lancaster redraws his midfield

Sam Burgess. Photo / Getty Images

In the single most radical upheaval of Stuart Lancaster's time in charge, England have ripped up their midfield for the crucial World Cup pool match against Wales.

George Ford has been dropped for Owen Farrell, Sam Burgess will start at second five-eighths and Brad Barritt has been switched to centre in place of the injured Jonathan Joseph.

Ford's demotion is a shock. It would seem to be a reaction to the pressing issue of dealing with Wales' full-frontal approach as well as the injury to Joseph, their top try-scorer from the Six Nations Championship this year.

The desire for width and variety has been replaced by a stern, muscle-bound line-up. England have opted for the full-metal-jacket approach, spooked perhaps by the physicality of the Fijians in the World Cup opening match at Twickenham.

Ford has every right to feel aggrieved. The Bath first-five was the linchpin of a revitalised attacking approach during the Six Nations, when England scored a record-breaking 18 tries in five matches. Most pertinently, Ford led the attack at a frenzied Millennium Stadium on the opening Friday night of the championship, dealing with all that Wales could launch down his No10 channel, to steer England to a 21-16 win.

Farrell, of course, missed the Six Nations Championship through injury, returning towards the end of the season to steer Saracens to the Aviva Premiership title. Farrell, 24, had been struggling with his form 10 months ago, giving way to Ford, but he appears much sharper and more at ease this past couple of months.

Even so, Ford has done nothing wrong. He was shaky against France in Paris in the second of the warm-up games although so were many others. There was a problem in the middle stretch against Fiji in the World Cup opener when England became too lateral.

Blushes were spared when a cavalcade of replacements came on, Farrell arriving with the Vunipola brothers and Joe Launchbury up front and Burgess alongside.

The surprise redrafting of the midfield will send tremors through the ranks. No one disputes Farrell's abilities but, conversely, no one can question Ford's rights as the man in possession. This is a major call by Lancaster and if it were to backfire there are sure to be repercussions.