England head coach Stuart Lancaster says he has not panicked by replacing flyhalf George Ford with Owen Farrell for Saturday’s game with Wales.
Ford, 22, started last week’s 35 / 11 World Cup Pool A win over Fiji, but Farrell impressed off the bench.
Sam Burgess has been selected at inside centre after Jonathan Joseph was ruled out with a chest injury.
“I don’t think putting an in-form and confident Owen Farrell into the team is a risk,” said Lancaster.
Billy Vunipola comes in at No 8 for Ben Morgan, who has a knee injury, while James Haskell and Alex Goode step up to the bench for the 1st time.
Lancaster’s decision to drop Ford has been heavily criticised, with ex-Scotland captain Gavin Hastings saying the hosts have “panicked” while Toby Flood, who won 60 caps for England from 2006 to 2013, believes the 22-year-old has every right to feel “pretty devastated”.
“George hasn’t done a huge amount wrong and I could see why he potentially was a little bit upset with the decision,” Flood said.
Bath’s Ford played every game of this year’s Six Nations, while Saracens No 10 Farrell, 24, missed the tournament with a knee injury.
“There’s definitely no panic,” said Lancaster of his selection.
“Owen wasn’t available in the Six Nations and George was fantastic. We’re fortunate to have 2 high quality players in that position.”
Rugby league convert Burgess, 26, has just 3 caps for Rugby World Cup hosts England, but was chosen to partner Brad Barritt in midfield ahead of Henry Slade.
“People said it was a gamble to put Sam into the 31-man squad. Day by day, week by week he has proven people wrong,” said Lancaster.
“It’s a big game for Sam but I think he’s more than proven over the last 3 months he’s capable of playing at this level.
“He hasn’t got the international rugby union experience, but he has the big game experience.”
Burgess brushed off the conjecture surrounding his inclusion, saying: “It’s their opinion. I believe in myself. I feel like I’ve got the respect of my team-mates and the staff here. That’s what really counts.”
Bath centre Joseph, 24, injured his chest against Fiji and England attack coach Andy Farrell said the injury was “nothing too serious” and would probably keep him out for “not more than a week”, although it is understood he is a significant doubt for the match with Australia on 3 October.
Joseph scored 4 tries in England’s Six Nations campaign earlier this year and is 1 of the most dangerous runners in England’s backline.
After facing Wales, England play Australia, followed by Uruguay on 10 October, with the top 2 teams from the group progressing to the quarter-finals.
England: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Anthony Watson, 13 Brad Barritt, 12 Sam Burgess, 11 Jonny May, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Chris Robshaw (Captain), 6 Tom Wood, 5 Courtney Lawes, 4 Geoff Parling, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Tom Youngs, 1 Joe Marler
Replacements: 16 Rob Webber, 17 Mako Vunipola, 18 Kieran Brookes, 19 Joe Launchbury, 20 James Haskell, 21 Richard Wigglesworth, 22 George Ford, 23 Alex Goode.
Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)
Assistant Referees: Romain Poite (France), Mathieu Raynal (France)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
bbc