Wednesday 25 April 2018 22:39, UK
Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall believes Owen Farrell would make an outstanding captain if he is asked to lead England on their summer tour to South Africa.
Eddie Jones indicated after the Six Nations that he might rest some of those players who featured for the British and Irish Lions against New Zealand last summer with the 2019 World Cup in mind.
Farrell was among those most likely to be given a break, while Maro Itoje, Mako Vunipola and Jamie George were also involved with the Lions.
But the increasing number of injuries, most notably the absence of captain Dylan Hartley as he recovers from concussion, means England head coach Jones may have to rethink his plans.
Farrell would be one of the leading candidates to replace Hartley as national skipper for the three-Test tour of South Africa and McCall believes he would be up to the job.
"It's up to England whether Owen goes but I'm certain he will go. I haven't heard anything to the contrary and I'm sure he wants to go as well," McCall said.
"He would be a brilliant captain. He is ready to do that job and has the respect of everybody.
"He has a fantastic rugby mind but he is also brilliant at getting the best out of his team-mates. Both of those things combined make him an ideal captain.
"I thought Eddie was very good last autumn. He rested Maro and he rested Owen a lot so I am sure he doesn't want to rest Owen too much because he only played in one Test match in November. I am pretty certain he will go.
"The players feel good. They have had some time off and are feeling good and excited about the rest of the season.
"We have got a brilliant performance team here who look at match and training loads and none of the international players are anywhere near the top limits."
