Sarries chief's fury over Farrell attack

Tomorrow England name their team to face Samoa with Jonny Wilkinson and Olly Barkley ready to return after injury making Farrell and Mike Catt the likely casualties following the 36-0 drubbing by South Africa.

Mike Ford, the England defence coach, has angered former club Saracens by claiming Farrell doesn't have the time to become a force in union and is part of a squad devoid of world-class players.

Ford said: "The 12 months Farrell spent out of the game injured has done him no favours in terms of his understanding of union and he's doing the best he can. It's probably a little too late in terms of his age, to be where he wants to be and we use him the best we can. He's a great leaders in terms of his talking but it's not a simple as saying we are not using Andy Farrell in the best way. You have to look at the bigger picture "

But Sarries director of rugby Alan Gaffney, who has helped Farrell learn the union game, said: "Maybe I'm being paranoid, but I get the impression the coaches talking about Faz are defending themselves and not the team. They could be thinking about how to hang onto their own jobs.

"It's not so long ago they were talking about Faz being a No6 and now he's in there as a centre. It's a fact that the way England are trying to play at the World Cup is not getting the best out of Faz. It may be a damning judgement, but I don't think they have an idea of what's needed.

"They are standing too deep when they should be playing flat and in the faces of the opposition. Yes, I do worry that Faz will be made a scapegoat and he is a player with fantastic peripheral vision and the passing skills to break down defences - if you play flat . The Samoan skills will break down if you take them on that way but if you sit back then it's one long day in the office because they will target you for the big hits."

The good news for England is that Wilkinson is raring to make his debut in this year's tournament in Nantes on Saturday.

The fly-half, sidelined by an ankle problem suffered in training, said: "I am fit and now available for selection. This will be a massive week; a real examination of who we are as people and as a team. I think we will pass it, but we have to as it's our last chance.

"The South Africa game now needs to be the final straw, the hardest lesson-and the final one. However you want to put it absolutely has to be the vehicle that helps us regain the proactive attitude, that forces us to go out and fire some shots, physically, up front and in defence."

"The problem comes down to this: we simply haven't been able to use our talent, the strength of the squad hasn't been seen. That is what is so galling."

England will name a replacement for centre Jamie Noon, whose tournament is over after damagingmedial ligaments in his left knee, with Toby Flood favourite to be called up. However, Jason Robinson could feature again despite injuring his hamstring against the Springboks.