Harlequins playmaker Marcus Smith is the future, but captain Owen Farrell is he solution right now, according to Warren Gatland.
Farrell over Smith
Gatland wrote in his column for The Telegraph: "If the plan was to make a half dozen changes for Japan, then I would stick to the plan and do that by giving Farrell a start at 10, before then picking my best side for New Zealand and South Africa.
Owen Farrell, Captain of England kicks the penalty during the Autumn Nations Series Match between England and Argentina at Twickenham Stadium on 6 November 2022. Photo: Frankie OKeeffe/PPAUK
" If you go with the same selection as Argentina, then that team pretty much needs to play the whole autumn together to build for the two big games.
"With Owen at No 10, you look at that as a possibility if you want to play a different game. The hard thing for England is you are trying to find a place for Marcus and he is a raw talent, unbelievably skilful.
"ertain games you go back to Owen at No 10 and you have that solidity, experience, and he has done it brilliantly for Saracens controlling the game for a number of years and had great success at fly-half."
Simmonds for Vunipola
Gatland wrote: "Upfront, I'm not sure that Maro had the impact at six in terms of ball-carrying so it's whether you put him back into the second, even though I felt Alex Coles had a great debut.
"A back row featuring Tom Curry, Jack Willis and Sam Simmonds. That could give you some real mobility, some carrying power and footwork."
Billy Vunipola of England during the Autumn Nations Series Match between England and Argentina at Twickenham Stadium on 6 November 2022. Photo: Frankie OKeeffe/PPAUK
Warren Gatland's England XV to face Japan
Back-three:
- 15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
- 14. Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)
- 11. Joe Cokanasiga (Bath RFC)
Freddie Steward of England goes over for a try during the Autumn Nations Match between England and Australia at Twickenham on 13 November 2021. Photo: Micah Crook/PPAUK
DID YOU KNOW?
- In May 2022 Steward was named as the Rugby Players' Association
Player's Young player of the year and England men's player of the season
- In April 2017, Nowell was called up for the 2017 British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand, becoming the first player to be selected from Exeter Chiefs by the Lions
- Cokanasiga was born in Fiji but before his third birthday, moved to England with his father, Ilaitia, who was in the British Army
Centres:
- 13. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
- 12. Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks)
Manu Tuilagi of England during the Autumn Nations Match between England and Tonga at Twickenham Stoop on 6 November 2021. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
DID YOU KNOW?
- He was named Manusamoa, after the name of the Samoan national team, Manu Samoa, because his brother Freddie was selected for Samoa at the World Cup in 1991, the year Manu was born
Halfbacks:
- 10. Owen Farrell (Saracens)
- 9. Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers)
Owen Farrell, Captain of England kicks the penalty during the Autumn Nations Series Match between England and Argentina at Twickenham Stadium on 6 November 2022. Photo: Frankie OKeeffe/PPAUK
Front-row:
- 1. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears)
- 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)
- 3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears)
DID YOU KNOW?
- Genge has developmental coordination disorder (dyspraxia)
- Sinckler has represented England at under-16, under-18, under-19 and under-20 levels, and has been a crucial member of the senior team since 2016
Second-row:
- 4. Maro Itoje (Saracens)
- 5. Jonny Hill (Sale Sharks)
Final whistle celebrations for Maro Itoje of England Rugby after the Six Nations Championship match between England and Wales at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on February 26th 2021. - PHOTO: Phil Mingo/PPAUK
DID YOU KNOW?
- As a schoolboy, Itoje played several sports including basketball, football, rugby and athletics, representing England at U17 level in shot put
- Hill is the nephew of former Rugby league international Paul Loughlin.
Back-row:
- 6. Jack Willis (Free Agent)
- 7. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks)
- 8. Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs)
Tom Curry of England during the Autumn Nations Match between England and Tonga at Twickenham Stoop on 6 November 2021. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
DID YOU KNOW?
- Curry is the twin brother of Sale Sharks flanker Ben Curry, son of Bishop Heber High School Head Teacher David Curry and nephew of former England hooker John Olver
- Vunipola was born in Sydney in Australia to Tongan parents, but moved to Wales with his family as a young child after his father Feʻao Vunipola signed for Pontypool RFC in 1998
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