Owen Farrell told to adjust tackle technique before Six Nations

Owen Farrell has been told he must adjust his tackle technique after being entrusted with the England captaincy for the Six Nations. Farrell will complete a reduced three-match ban for a dangerous challenge in time to lead Steve Borthwick's team into their Championship opener against Scotland at Twickenham on 4 February. Borthwick has dismissed the controversy generated by Farrell's availability given that the final match of his suspension has been allocated to Saracens' clash with Bristol on 28 January, a fixture he would never have played in because of its proximity to the Six Nations.

Instead, England's new head coach has said it is his responsibility to pick the best available players having been given the green light by the Rugby Football Union to use his former Saracens team-mate against Scotland. But the nature of Farrell's high tackle on Gloucester's Jack Clement is the latest example of his suspect technique and has not gone unnoticed by Borthwick and his number two Kevin Sinfield, the defence coach. "Right across the sport we know we need to change.

Owen fully accepts he needs to change and is willing to work extremely hard at it," Borthwick said. "Anybody who worked with me at Leicester will know how hard we went after tackle height. I think for the pair of us, and the coaching team, we believe it's the best way to tackle.

"We will work hard right from day one on tackle height within our squad. We are not shying away from the fact that the game has to change. Our elite players will need to make some adjustments." England have 19 days until they face a Scotland side they have not beaten at Twickenham since 2017 and Borthwick faces the challenge of rebuilding belief and direction after the troubled autumn that