Team News: Owen Farrell starts at 10 against Fiji, Marcus Smith at fullback

England captain Owen Farrell replaces George Ford at number 10 for Saturday’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final with Fiji, while Marcus Smith starts at fullback.

England captain Owen Farrell has been named at number 10 in place of George Ford for Sunday’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final against Fiji.

The 32-year-old started at inside centre for last Sunday’s narrow triumph over Samoa, where he dethroned Jonny Wilkinson as England’s all-time leading points scorer.

Ford was given the nod at fly-half for both of England’s opening games with Argentina and Japan during Farrell’s suspension, and he occupied the same role against Samoa.

However, the Sale Sharks man has to make do with a spot among the replacements this time around, and he is one of two players to drop out of the XV which scraped past Samoa in their final Pool D encounter.

Ford has been demoted to the bench in favour of Elliot Daly, who will occupy the left-wing position this weekend, while Leicester Tigers fullback Freddie Steward misses out entirely.

The 22-year-old – a two-time England Men’s Player of the Year Award winner – loses out to Harlequins man Marcus Smith, who registered two tries in the 71-0 mauling of Chile last month.

With Daly starting at left wing, Jonny May switches sides to the right, as Manu Tuilagi and Joe Marchant link arms in the central roles behind scrum-half Alex Mitchell.

However, Steve Borthwick has gone with an unaltered forward pack, as Ellis Genge, Jamie George and Dan Cole all retain their places in the front row at the Orange Velodrome in Marseille.

“The knockout stages of any Rugby World Cup are always full of excitement and keen anticipation for our supporters both at home and here in France. This will be no different. The players cannot wait for this Sunday’s quarter-final against Fiji,” Borthwick told englandrugby.com after naming his squad.

“Everyone knows just what an unpredictably dangerous opposition Fiji can be. However, we have shown in the group stages how we can win games, and we will be calling on that experience and determination to ensure we carry on our journey.

“We are very much looking forward to returning to the special atmosphere of the Stade de Marseille, where we started our campaign back in September with a win against Argentina.

“I have said it before, but it is right that I say it again, our supporters contributed to a very special night on that occasion, and I have no doubt it will be another memorable evening this Sunday.”

The winner of Sunday’s tie will go on to meet either reigning champions South Africa or host nation France in the semi-finals, and England head into the knockout stages having won seven of their eight previous showdowns with Fiji, but the most recent Test in August ended in a 30-22 win for Simon Raiwalui’s team.

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