England head coach Stuart Lancaster has defended his decision to keep Owen Farrell in the team for Saturday's meeting with Samoa at Twickenham.

Despite producing below-par displays in the defeats to New Zealand and South Africa, Farrell retained his spot in the side, and will move to inside-centre from fly-half.

However, Lancaster has dismissed any suggestion that he would have a problem dropping Farrell, whose father Andy is on the England coaching staff.

"If there's a perception that I've never dropped Owen Farrell, then that's wrong," Lancaster told reporters.

"He was dropped in South Africa when we were on tour and he didn't play in any of the Autumn Internationals in 2012 in the lead up to that New Zealand game.

"Mike has his view but I make the decision on it. Andy has a view, but to suggest that he in anyway would influence selection is completely wrong.

"In terms of questioning the integrity of them as a father and son unit in their family, I think that would be completely wrong."

George Ford will play fly-half against Samoa as England look to end a run of five successive defeats.