World Cup | England with Farrell at full-back and Smith at full-back against Fiji

England’s World Cup quarter-final against Fiji in Marseille on Sunday (5pm) will see Owen Farrell, who was replaced at center during the last match against Samoa, start this time around. The combination was revealed on Friday.

Suspended for the first two matches of the tournament against Argentina and Japan, the England captain was replaced by Ford, who was more adept with his kicking game. Coach Steve Borthwick decided to play the two together during the last group match against Samoa, with Fort playing at flyhalf and Farrell at first centre. A moderately solid association for a lackluster win for XV de la Rose (18-17), which will not repeat itself against the Fijians.

Owen Farrell (32 years, 109 caps) takes control of the game alongside scrum-half Alex Mitchell, again preferring the experienced Danny Care over the likes of Danny Care, who started well last weekend.

Borthwick sprung a big surprise in his starting XV by fielding Marcus Smith at full-back, who had started all the high-stakes matches up to that point in place of Freddie Steward. Less comfortable than the latter with more balls, Smith will bring a new attacking dimension to England against a traditionally more athletic Fijian side than the usual fly-half unaccustomed full-back position.

The versatile Elliot Daly returns to the left wing, while Manu Tuilaki and Joe Marchant will partner in the centre. However, there was no change in the complaint in the eight predecessors.

Line-up of England XV against Fiji:

Smith – May, Marchant, Tuilaki, Daley – (o) Farrell (cap.), (m) Mitchell – Curry, Earl, Lawes – Sessam, Idoje – Cole, George, Kenge

Subs: Donn, Marler, Sinclair, Martin, Vunipola, Carr, Ford, Lawrence