Farrell forced out

Andy Farrell was unable to prove he deserves to keep his England place against France next weekend after injury forced him to withdraw from the Saracens team to face Sale.

The former rugby league star, one of the players criticised for his performance in the record defeat to Ireland, pulled out of Saracens' Guinness Premiership match at home to Sale Sharks after suffering a back spasm overnight.

It is the second time in recent weeks that Farrell was gone down with the problem.

Jason Robinson was not in the Sale team because of the injury which kept him out against Ireland, but the visitors welcomed back Mark Cueto. He captained the side from full-back rather than his usual position on the wing.