Stuart Lancaster says Owen Farrell must excel in warm-up games to replace George Ford

Stuart Lancaster insists Owen Farrell must excel during the World Cup warm-up matches if he is displace George Ford as England’s fly-half.

Ford took advantage of Farrell’s injury-enforced absence during the 2015 RBS 6 Nations by bringing a new dimension to the Red Rose attacking game and remains the incumbent in the position.

When the two faced off for Bath and Saracens in the Aviva Premiership final two months later, it was Farrell who emerged as the outstanding playmaker in a one-sided afternoon at Twickenham.