England hand Farrell his rugby dream

Andy Farrell will complete a remarkable journey from rugby league to union tomorrow when he is named at inside-centre in England’s starting line-up to face Scotland in Saturday’s Six Nations opener at Twickenham.

But there was cruel luck last night for another man set to win his first England cap when No 8 Dan Ward-Smith suffered a dislocated kneecap that

could rule him out of the whole tournament.

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Farrell, 31, has played only seven full games at No 12 for Saracens, after losing the whole

of last season to injury.

He switched codes from Wigan, then spent the first part of this season at blindside flanker on

the insistence of former England

head coach Andy Robinson.

But now the former Great Britain rugby league captain is to win his first union cap under

new head coach — and ardent league fan — Brian Ashton.

"When Andy was arguably the best league player in the world, I asked him what his ambition was.

He told me to become the best union player in

the world. That is the mindset he’s brought

with him to union. He’s a professional with

leadership skills and is ready for international

rugby union."

The selection of Farrell will be one of up to 10 changes to the side which lost to South

Africa in November as Ashton tries to reverse

England’s run of eight defeats in nine matches,

although his plans were hit by the serious

injury to Ward-Smith.

Ashton had pencilled him in for a first cap

against Scotland, but the No 8 was carried off

15 minutes into Bristol’s Premiership match at Northampton with the injury to his right knee,

which is likely to sideline him for months.

Ward-Smith had been set to squeeze out

Martin Corry at No 8, but the former captain

should now be safe.

Elsewhere in the back row Ashton is

known to favour an out-and-out openside,

which suggests Sale’s Magnus Lund should get the nod, leaving Lewis Moody and Joe Worsley fighting for the blindside berth.

Harry Ellis is favoured to take over as scrumhalf, with Toby Flood at stand-off, at least

until Jonny Wilkinson gains full match fitness.