Brooke queries England selections

By Pranav Soneji

Wilkinson and Farrell work together in training

Zinzan Brooke has questioned England coach Brian Ashton's decision to pick Jonny Wilkinson and Andy Farrell for the Six Nations clash with Scotland.

Wilkinson is set to win his first England cap since the World Cup final in 2003, while Farrell has been handed his long-awaited international debut.

Former All Black Brooke said: "Both men are short of big-match games.

"Winning Test matches is about making on-the-spot decisions, and I don't know whether they have that capacity yet."

Wilkinson has only made a handful of appearances for Newcastle this season, having suffered a series of debilitating injuries since the World Cup final in Sydney.

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The fly-half is confident he is ready for the international stage once again, but Brooke is concerned about the level of public expectation the 27-year-old will have to deal with.

"There will be a lot of rugby people around the world watching that game because Wilkinson's back in the starting line-up," said Brooke, who won 58 caps for New Zealand in a 10-year playing career.

"If things go right he'll probably get 60 minutes, but if things don't go so well, he may just get half a game - which isn't great for his confidence."

Farrell has been plagued with injuries since making his high-profile switch from rugby league almost two years ago.

We've been waiting for almost two years for Saturday - everyone will be watching Farrell Zinzan Brooke

The Saracens man only switched to inside centre in November last year, after starting the season as a blind-side flanker.

And Brooke expects the 31-year-old Farrell to be under almost as much pressure as Wilkinson as a result.

"We've all been waiting for almost two years for Saturday - everyone will be watching Farrell," said Brooke.

"A Six Nations international is a whole new game. This will be like his first (rugby league) Test for Great Britain all those years ago, and I'm sure he will be nervous."

Brooke also lamented the injury to Bristol number eight Dan Ward-Smith, who had looked certain to make his England debut this weekend.

Ward-Smith has been ruled out for the rest of the season

Ward-Smith was stretchered off during the Premiership match against Northampton last week with a dislocated kneecap.

"I'm really disappointed for him - I like the way he does things," said Brooke.

"England need a player like Ward-Smith. Ashton could have built a loose forward trio around Ward-Smith had it not been for his injury.

"He's a big strapping lad. He's got the size, pace and balance and he's a great ball-carrier."

Brooke revealed he had tried to sign the New Zealand-born forward during his time as Harlequins coach.

"He was a pretty exciting player seven years ago when we played a cup game down in Plymouth," said Brooke.

"He was one of a couple of players I tried to sign but I lost my position before I could make it happen.

"But Quins' loss has definitely been (Bristol coach) Richard Hill's gain."

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