Six Nations Championship:If there are any lingering doubts in Brian Ashton's mind about selecting Andy Farrell in his first England team today, they are not shared by Farrell's club, Saracens.

The Saracens coach, Alan Gaffney, yesterday backed the former Great Britain rugby league captain to start against Scotland at Twickenham on Saturday and believes he has the ability to make a serious impact on the Six Nations Championship.

Whether he starts alongside Jonny Wilkinson - and Ashton will be sorely tempted - no potential England debutant since Jason Robinson six years ago has created the kind of pre-match stir Farrell is about to generate. According to Gaffney, however, the only risk involved would be in not picking the 31-year-old, who has played only seven first-team union games as a centre.

"I'm delighted for Andy Farrell that it looks like he will start against Scotland," said Gaffney, the Australian coach who initially agreed with Ashton's predecessor Andy Robinson that Farrell should play in the back row.

"I must admit I didn't think he would progress as quickly as he has done. It's been a delight seeing how far he's come.

"He's got the ability to play the game going forward and laterally and there aren't many players like that. He's made tremendous strides and definitely justifies selection in the national side.

"When you've got a left-footed kicker at 12 it's a huge plus. I thought for a while he might be exposed defensively at 12. Although he's a good tackler it's a difficult position to defend in but he's developed very well in that area too."

None of this will be news to Ashton, who has tracked Farrell's career since he was a teenager playing league at Wigan. If the coach does not play him against either the Scots or next week's opponents Italy, England will have no way of knowing if their expensively poached recruit has the ability to cut the mustard in this year's World Cup.

They are also relatively short of options in the position, though London Irish's Brian Smith also put in a word for Mike Catt yesterday. The 35-year-old Catt came safely through his comeback game yesterday after a shoulder injury and may be among the 22 unveiled today.

"Catty put his hand up," reported Smith. "On a losing side he played well and if Brian Ashton wants someone in midfield then Mike put his best foot forward."

Catt's participation, though, will hinge on the Wilkinson question. To judge by the universally positive feedback on the out-half in the past 72 hours it will now be something of a surprise if Wilkinson is not in the 22.

It might even be better if he started rather than sat on the bench: if he is picked ahead of his Newcastle clubmate Toby Flood or Shane Geraghty, the whole world will sit up and take notice.

Everyone in English rugby, meanwhile, should spare a thought this morning for poor Dan Ward-Smith, whose hopes of a first cap have been cruelly dashed by a dislocated kneecap, which looks certain to rule the Bristol number eight out of the entire championship.

It offers the deposed captain Martin Corry the chance to win his 50th cap as part of the starting XV as England seek to put the past behind them.

France have recalled Clement Poitrenaud, David Skrela, Sebastien Chabal and Imanol Harinordoquy to the 22-man squad for their Six Nations opener against Italy in Rome next Saturday.

Stade Francais outhalf Skrela, 27, won his only cap in June 2001 against New Zealand. Toulouse fullback Poitrenaud won the last of his 21 caps against Romania last June but his last appearance against a major rugby nation dates back to November 2004.

Sale number eight Chabal has has 24 caps to his name but has won only four since 2003, the last in November 2005 against Tonga.

The 33-cap Harinordoquy of Biarritz was France's first choice number eight at the 2003 World Cup. He fell from grace and was only selected once in 2005 and twice in 2006.

• Guardian Service

FRANCE(squad v Italy): Forwards: D Szarzewski, R Ibanez, S Marconnet, P De Villiers, O Milloud, J Thion, L Nallet, P Pape, S Betsen, J Bonnaire, S Chabal, I Harinordoquy. Backs: D Yachvili, P Mignoni, D Skrela, D Traille, F Fritz, Y Jauzion, V Clerc, C Dominici, C Heymans, C Poitrenaud.