CHRIS FOY: Andy Farrell could make case to be Eddie Jones’s successor if Ireland beat England

Andy Farrell could make life decidedly uncomfortable for Eddie Jones on Saturday – and also make a timely statement about his suitability to replace him as England head coach.

The family name has been up in lights at Twickenham for several years and that era of influence could be extended, if Ireland deliver a hammer blow to the English campaign in this Six Nations. 

They will come to London as favourites and the sup-plot involving their head coach is an intriguing one.

Andy Farrell will lead Ireland into their game against England on Saturday 

An Irish win would leave their Red Rose rivals facing the grim scenario of another two-win, three-loss championship tally, given that they have to go to Paris on the final weekend, for what looms as a hopeless mission. 

So Farrell’s team could condemn Jones to another tense RFU inquest – and they could also help convince his former employers that they need to bring him back.

Farrell must be regarded as a prime candidate for the England job, on the basis that he ticks two key boxes. He has amassed considerable international experience, with England, the Lions and Ireland – along with the lead role since the end of 2019 – and he is English. The RFU would be able to point to his pedigree and also the popular principle of home rule.

Domestic candidates such as Rob Baxter, Steve Borthwick and Alex Sanderson cannot match Farrell’s CV. 

The Ireland coach is among the favourites to replace Eddie Jones in charge of England

Borthwick comes closest, having worked for Jones with Japan and England, but he has not been in charge of a Test team. Amid uncertainty about the succession plan – if there is one this time – the indications are that the RFU want a proven figure.

What better way for Farrell to show he has what it takes than for Ireland to dismantle England in front of their own union hierarchy, in their own stadium. 

A repeat of last year’s 32-18 Irish win in Dublin would reinforce the sense that they are re-emerging as a global force, having beaten the All Blacks convincingly in the autumn. 

An away win on Saturday could see Ireland climb to fourth in the World Rugby rankings – pushing England down to fifth.

Ireland could end England’s hopes of a Six Nations title with a win next weekend

While there are growing doubts about Owen Farrell’s future as national captain, his father’s return to Twickenham after the 2023 World Cup would be welcomed – if he could be persuaded to return, that is. 

He was released from his post as defence coach when Jones took over, despite coming out of the brutal 2015 World Cup post-mortem with his reputation intact.

His motivational qualities are the stuff of legend, as highlighted by the famous ‘hurt arena’ speech to the Lions squad in Australia in 2013, before the tourists trounced the Wallabies to clinch a series win in Sydney. 

Farrell was released by England when Jones took over as head coach in 2015

And since succeeding Joe Schmidt as Ireland head coach, Farrell has overseen a tactical liberation. For all the talk of ‘new England’, it is their next opponents who have transformed their identity and raised their attacking horizons.

So the cross-code icon from Wigan can make a statement to the RFU king-makers if his team live up to their billing on Saturday. But Jones will recognise and relish this scenario. 

He will embrace under-dog status for his team. He will savour having his back to the wall. And he will passionately believe that if Farrell snr covets his job one day, he must move heaven and earth to earn it. 

Wales struggling to fill Principality Stadium

Wales need all the help they can get against France on Friday night, which is why it is shocking and alarming to discover that thousands of tickets for the Six Nations showdown at the Principality Stadium remain unsold. 

This is the title holders taking on Grand Slam-chasing visitors, who are emerging as the pre-eminent force in the sport – led by the world’s best player. It is a game which shouldn’t require any marketing to generate a sell-out. 

Tickets aren’t cheap, but the old, proud stereotype about Welsh rugby obsession is at stake. The regions have long struggled for decent crowds and now the national team are facing the disheartening prospect of playing in front of half-empty stands. 

The alcohol-free zone in the stadium is the area with most unclaimed seats – suggesting fans won’t turn up if they can’t drink through the game. That is a sad state of affairs. For a couple of hours, abandon the bars, fill the stands and sing. Without the trademark Cardiff noise and fervour, Wales are surely doomed. 

Thousands of tickets for the Six Nations game between Wales and France remain unsold

Sarries welcome back McCall in style 

It wasn’t a bad way for Saracens to welcome back Mark McCall – by beating Premiership leaders Leicester at StoneX Stadium. The hosts’ director of rugby had a month off duty for medical reasons but now he is in charge again and his team are full of ominous intent. 

They will make the play-offs – no question – and if they go on to claim a home semi-final, even the mighty Tigers will struggle to deny the Londoners another title, a year after they won promotion back to the top division. 

Saracens will be reinforced soon by their large England contingent and they have such a powerful collective purpose after the salary cap controversy, along with plenty of individual motivation for the likes of Farrell, Billy Vunipola, Elliot Daly and Alex Lozowski, among others. 

Saracens convincingly beat Leicester at home on Saturday in their Premiership clash

Fijian Drua make history in Super Rugby 

How good to see Fijian Drua claiming a maiden victory in Super Rugby Pacific, by beating Melbourne Rebels on Friday. It was just a shame that the landmark event took place in Australia and not in front of their own people, in Suva or Nadi. 

Hopefully, it won’t be long before these momentous fixtures – for the Drua and Moana Pasifika – are taking places in the Pacific islands, to enhance the game there as intended. Southern hemisphere officials should be making that relocation an urgent priority, as the Covid spectre gradually fades. 

Fijian Drua claiming a maiden victory in Super Rugby Pacific, by beating Melbourne Rebels

Doncaster and Ealing banned from Premiership 

Last Word – The decision to bar Doncaster and Ealing Trailfinders from entry into the Premiership – in the likely event of either club finishing top of the Championship – is lamentable and predictable. 

Perhaps more flexibility would have been shown to these clubs if they had made it known that they were prepared to pay £25million for the right to become league shareholders? The fact that they do not wish to spend a fortune on ‘P’ shares is likely to be counting against their efforts to gate-crash the elite. 

The system is deeply flawed, if not utterly rigged. Clubs striving for promotion can’t commit to huge infrastructure investment until they have the certainty of joining the top division. That much is obvious, yet Ealing and Doncaster are having to appeal against a ruling that blocks promotion, because they don’t yet have adequate capacity. 

But they don’t need it now – they only need it if they go up, so there should be an agreed timetable for development work once that is confirmed. Rugby’s narrow, insular, short-sighted attitudes continue to drag it down.