Ian McGeechan today claimed the Guinness Premiership has been "totally undermined and devalued" by English rugby chiefs.

London Wasps, the defending champions, are supplying players to England, Ireland and the Pacific Islanders over the next month while the Premiership continues to be played.

However, McGeechan, the club's director of rugby, believes the November international window should have been used for EDF Energy Cup matches which complete their pool stage this weekend.

Wasps are home to Newport Gwent Dragons on Sunday with Josh Lewsey and Tim Payne released from the England training camp but key players Danny Cipriani, James Haskell, Simon Shaw, Riki Flutey, Tom Palmer, Paul Sackey and Tom Rees are unavailable for the next five weeks. During that period Wasps will face Premiership matches against Harlequins, Sale and Newcastle.

As some clubs already rest their key players during EDF Cup fixtures, McGeechan thinks it would make more sense to play those games during international weeks.

McGeechan said: "There will be 12 Premiership fixtures affected by the two international release periods in November and then the Six Nations. It's a ridiculous situation that totally undermines and devalues the competition.

"We should be playing EDF matches in November and under the current arrangements, the Premiership is hardly a fair competition.

"I know lying third from bottom we are not in a great position to highlight this problem but it must be addressed."

Meanwhile, Andy Farrell has described his Saracens colleague Steve Borthwick as "the obvious candidate" to captain England in their autumn Tests.

Team manager Martin Johnson appointed Borthwick this week and Farrell said: "It's fantastic news that Steve has been named as England captain, both for him and Saracens.

"He is the right man to take England forward. He has opened everyone's eyes in terms of the preparation he puts into games and the attention to detail. He has made Saracens a better club, and I am sure he will do the same with England."