 Farrell's role has been the subject of much debate |
Cross-code great Jonathan Davies says he is amazed England have not decided where they want Andy Farrell to play. Head coach Andy Robinson will meet Saracens boss Alan Gaffney on Thursday to discuss Farrell's best position.
He was earmarked as an inside centre 18 months ago but has started his career with Saracens at blind-side flanker.
"I find it astonishing he has been in the game that long and they are still discussing where he should play," Davies told Five Live Breakfast.
"I would play him at inside centre because they have bought him for his passing skills and he won't be able to do that playing at number six, unless later on in the phase he will be able to stand in the back line.
"Andy Farrell's instincts will be as a rugby league player. When he gets games under his belt then he will change, and his angles of running and his awareness of the opposition will be totally different."
 | If England hadn't taken a gamble on Jason Robinson, they would never have won the World Cup |
Farrell, 31, spent two days with England's elite squad this week before returning to his club on Wednesday to prepare for Sunday's EDF Energy Cup match with Cardiff Blues. The former Wigan Warriors player, who switched codes last year in a �700,000 deal jointly funded by the RFU and Saracens, missed all of last season through injury.
He has so far made only one Anglo-Welsh Cup outing, a brief Guinness Premiership substitute appearance and a couple of run-outs in the second-team Guinness A League.
Some critics have already written off Farrell's switch as an expensive mistake.
But former Wales union star Davies, who switched codes to play for Widnes and Warrington before returning to union in 1995, insists the Rugby Football Union had nothing to lose in recruiting Farrell.
"At the time they bought him I thought he was the best player in either code in Britain," Davies added.
| Give him time to develop and make judgements in three months, not after two games England coach Andy Robinson |
"He has had bad injuries and it will take him time. But for me money wasn't an issue, (the RFU) have got enough money and it was a gamble they were willing to take. "If England hadn't taken a gamble on Jason Robinson, they would never have won the World Cup."
Robinson, who was instrumental in the persuading the RFU of the merits of Farrell's switch, admits there remains confusion over his possible role but pleaded with critics to give the player time to adapt.
"For a player of Andy's quality, I think the key thing is for him to have the ball in his hands," Robinson said.
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"We have got to look at what is the best position for him to achieve that." "I am not doubting what Andy Farrell can do," he added.
"What I would say is give him time to develop and make judgements in three months, not after two games.
"It is important that Andy has time on the pitch, and he has got to get that time with his team-mates. He is going to be judged for England by how he performs for Saracens."
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Interview: Jonathan Davies
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