Farrell has often been lauded as a real 'test match animal', when in fact of late, and particularly today, he's proved a weak link. He can 'get in amongst it' and prove a nuisance, but his kicking from hand and the tee was woeful and will cost England tight games - it's not even good enough for an average Premiership 10. Opponents soon realise they can push the rules and take more liberties if they aren't being punished by pens. It's not as though the rest of his game mitigates his kicking.
Unfortunately he wasn't the worst England player on the pitch which was JVP. I have absolutely no idea why he is in the set up (outside the obvious fact he plays for Leicester). His aimless and useless box kicking, slow thought at the breakdown and slow pass are a real issue. A good side will take him to the cleaners at the breakdown. At one point in the first half he was 15 feet away with his back turned whilst the ball was available on the floor at the breakdown and the back row were fighting to stop the Welsh forwards from turning it over.
That was the worst Wales side I've seen for years and England started brightly and looked good for the first 25 minutes, but the baggage the unimaginative Borthwick brings to the set up via his favourites from Tigers and the Cheats will hold them back and keep the shackles on during his tenure.
I still maintain that the damage to the English game wraught by the Cheats has left the likes of Itoje, George, Farrell, Malins lacking hunger and intensity - when the bread and butter of your profession becomes a cakewalk week in, week out, it's no surprise the edge goes and the step up to test match intensity becomes a step too far. Farrell's kicking is the perfect example.