George Ford has to start for England, even if it means a long road back for Farrell

Seniority should go out of the window entirely if England find themselves with a tough selection decision to make between George Ford and Owen Farrell at the Rugby World Cup.

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Farrell is Engand's captain but may yet find himself on the bench in the coming weeks.

The Saracens fly-half will miss Sunday's clash with Japan in Nice through suspension, but will be back for the third pool encounter, against Chile.

England's 27-10 win over Argentina on Saturday sets Steve Borthwick's side on course for the quarter-finals.

It is at that stage that head coach Borthwick would face his ultimate decision between Ford and Farrell ... which one is his first choice No 10 when the tournament reaches its do-or-die stage? Ford ran the show against Argentina, scoring all 27 of England's points with three drop-goals and six penalties. The 30-year-old is in stellar form, so a reckoning is waiting down the line once Farrell returns.

Of course, England could revert to the set-up used at the 2019 World Cup in Japan, where they reached the final, by starting Ford at fly-half and Farrell one position outside him at inside centre.