Ford wilts in Farrell's shadow

Eddie Jones has made three changes and I’m surprised it’s not more. The most noteworthy of those is that George Ford has been dropped for Danny Cipriani, and I don’t think he can have any complaints.

Ford has had a poor season and his form has gone backwards over the past two Tests. For so long we have been told his partnership with Owen Farrell was a positive, but I believe that when they play together it actually diminishes Ford.

Farrell is the senior man and the bigger personality, and I think Ford looks to him to make the key decisions and drive the team forward. In some ways that is natural, but as a fly-half the onus is on you to make the calls, not your inside centre.

To my mind it is no coincidence that Ford’s best performances for England came last summer in Argentina, when Farrell was away with the Lions. Since then Ford has reverted to being the junior man in the partnership - and he has suffered as a result. Losing his place in the side is a direct consequence.