Owen Farrell was “very unhappy” to be relieved of the England captaincy after Courtney Lawes was placed in charge for Saturday’s series opener against Australia in Perth.

For the first time since 2018, Farrell has been overlooked as captain with Eddie Jones opting for Lawes after the Northampton flanker impressed in the role while deputising during the autumn and Six Nations.

Farrell has made a full recovery from the ankle injuries that have heavily disrupted his season and he features at inside centre, but the news that he would not be leading England out at Optus Stadium came was taken badly.

When asked how Farrell felt about his demotion, Jones replied: “Very unhappy.

Owen Farrell has lost the captaincy of England captain for the first Test. (Picture: PA)

placeholder image — Owen Farrell has lost the captaincy of England captain for the first Test. (Picture: PA)

“Owen is a bloke who expresses his feelings clearly and he wants to be captain. When I told him he wasn’t going to be captain, he wasn’t very happy. But that’s OK.

“Owen’s had a fair while out of the team and at this stage we feel it’s the best thing for the team and for Owen, because he’s a very important player for us.

“He has played 94 Tests for England and he has won every trophy in the world, apart from the World Cup. He’s a pretty fair player and he’s a very important player for us. We want Owen to be at his best and he’s been out of the side for a while, so it’s an opportunity for him to play three Tests and produce his best.”

Jones rules out the possibility that a call which is among the biggest of his seven-year reign would have a negative impact on Farrell’s commitment to the team and stresses that Lawes’ appointment is for this series only.

Courtney Lawes, who will lead England into Saturday's first Test against Australia after retaining the captaincy despite Owen Farrell's return at inside centre. (Picture: John Walton/PA Wire.

Lawes initially took over when Farrell suffered the first of his two ankle injuries in the autumn and was eventually restored when the Saracens playmaker was hurt again in the build up to the Six Nations.

Danny Care’s remarkable international comeback will be complete on Saturday when, at the age of 35, the Leeds-born scrum-half wins his 85th cap – four years after his last outing ended when he rowed with Jones.