Former England fly-half Stuart Barnes insists that Steve Borthwick should not axe George Ford until he has seen him alongside a different midfield combination.
The playmaker endured a shocking after at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham last weekend when Borthwick’s team went down 42-21 to Ireland.
Andy Farrell’s men were irrepressible in London, embarrassing the Englishmen on their own patch, but Barnes reckons that it could prove beneficial for the Red Rose boss in the long-term.
That is providing he brings in Seb Atkinson and Max Ojomoh alongside Ford, according to the 63-year-old.
Excellent international performances
Both impressed against Argentina at different times last year, with the former starring in the mid-year series in July and the latter producing a man-of-the-match performance in November.
Atkinson is considered a big ball carrier with deft skills, as Barnes compared him to Stuart McCloskey, who was utterly magnificent for Ireland at Twickenham.
“In the short term, McCloskey did a great deal of damage to Steve Borthwick’s team, but if England learn the agonising lessons from last Saturday, they could yet be sending a metaphorical thank-you note to the long-striding Irish centre,” he wrote in his Times column.
“George Ford faced the flak. There’s no point pretending it was his finest day, what with those headline missed kicks to the corner. But whereas his opposite number, Jack Crowley, was able to intelligently mix the Irish attack throughout the match, Ford’s options were limited.”
Barnes would therefore keep Ford in situ and replace Fraser Dingwall, who has started all three Six Nations games so far.
“Dingwall lacks the power at international level to punch holes in the gainline. For all the talk of ‘pods’ in attack, a well-timed pass to someone like McCloskey generates all-important front-foot ball,” he wrote.
“Ford has neither the bulk nor the pace to carry the line himself. But he has the skill to pass as well as he kicks.
“That is if he has the right option outside him. An English McCloskey. The odds are that Borthwick will bow to the general public pressure and select Fin Smith at No10.”
Ford taking over from Fin Smith
Northampton’s Smith was England’s first choice during the 2025 Six Nations but he has struggled for international game time since.
Ford took to Argentina while the Saints star was with the British and Irish Lions, and Barnes hopes he rekindles that 10-12 partnership with Atkinson.
“England’s management should look not to Northampton but Argentina for the answers. In the summer tour to South America, Gloucester’s Seb Atkinson gave Ford that big shoulder to play with. He is the only English No. 12 who can do a McCloskey,” he wrote.
Ojomoh is the other player to feature at inside centre for England over recent times but he is not currently in the match-day squad, a call which has staggered Barnes.
“He (Atkinson) would be my only option at 12 except for the fact that Max Ojomoh was given a chance against Argentina at Twickenham and he grasped it like few others ever have,” he wrote.
“Against Argentina, he steered England to victory. Now he isn’t even part of the squad. It was — and remains — a crass decision to omit him. Especially as it doesn’t even have to be a matter of whether England prefer the Gloucester man’s robust nature (with plenty of skill) or the skilled Bath player (with plenty of power).”
While both prefer 12, Ojomoh has plenty of club experience at outside centre and would pair them both together against Italy.
“The pair are a potential dream. Inside centre, outside centre or somewhere in between, it doesn’t matter. They would slot tidily alongside each other,” he added.
“Based on international form, potential and the smallest degree of rugby nous, Ojomoh should not only be in the squad — he should be playing inside and outside Atkinson. Then let’s see whether Ford is finished or not.
“To defend his fly half from the excessive criticism is admirable of Borthwick, and probably correct. But to not pick the man to balance the midfield in tandem with Atkinson . . . that is curious. To omit him from the squad? It’s astonishing in its ineptitude.”