Saracens boss Alan Gaffney is "amazed" at the level of criticism Andy Farrell has received since England's record Six Nations defeat against Ireland.

Farrell will return to domestic duty when Saracens tackle English champions Sale Sharks at Vicarage Road on Sunday.

And although he has been retained in a 28-man England training squad for the Six Nations clash against France on Sunday week, Farrell's immediate Test future has been queried by the likes of former Test stars Will Carling and Jeremy Guscott.

Carling claims Farrell lacks sufficient pace for the highest level, while Guscott has advocated a return for 35-year-old Mike Catt at inside centre.

But Gaffney believes former Great Britain rugby league skipper Farrell, who has won just three union caps for England, has received unfair attention.

"Having extensively gone through the video of the England game and looking at it objectively, I thought 'Faz' was one of the better England performers," said the former Munster coach.

"I think the key here was I looked at the game objectively, which is something I am not sure that some people have been doing. He did pretty well when you consider he was playing behind a pack that was dished up by the Ireland forwards.

"I have even spoken to some of the Irish guys, and they thought he was one of England's better players. I am amazed at the criticism. If you look at the game, Ireland scored four tries in all. One came from an interception and another which they created.

"The other two were scored when Danny Grewcock was in the sin-bin, and not a lot seems to have been made about that, which is surprising. Nobody likes criticism, but what 'Faz' has received this week from some individuals has been completely unjustified."

Farrell has also gained support from ex-England scrum-half Kyran Bracken and current England captain Phil Vickery, although it remains to be seen whether he will retain his place for France's Twickenham visit.