Phil Vickery believes England’s future could lie with Freddie Burns at fly-half – and the No.10 shirt’s current incumbent on his outside.
Competition for England’s fly-half berth has been intense since the New Year, with Owen Farrell, George Ford, Burns and Danny Cipriani all in the mix.
Farrell has been the man in possession for the last two years and started in each of England’s RBS 6 Nations matches earlier this year.
However, with Ford missing this month’s tour of New Zealand, Burns threw his hat in the ring with a pair of accomplished displays.
And former England prop Vickery believes Burns could soon take up the mantle on a full-time basis, with Farrell moving to inside centre.
“At ten I think Burns, if the Leicester thing happens for him, could be first choice,” Vickery told the Gloucester Citizen. “But then we talk about where Farrell can play and I think that inside centre spot could be his.
“It is natural for him. If we compare Billy to Farrell they are very similar physically and Farrell is as strong if not stronger.
“Having him at inside centre will open that England game up a little bit more, with two kickers, two thinkers. And then you have the wrecking machine in the centre and on the wings.”
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