Flanker Ben Earl ready to wing it for England ahead of Ireland clash

‘Those sort of players are going to become massively invaluable’: Eddie Jones believes flanker Ben Earl is ready to wing it for England ahead of Six Nations showdown against Ireland

  • Eddie Jones revealed Ben Earl could play on wing for England against Ireland
  • Saracens flanker made his Test debut in Calcutta Cup win against Scotland
  • Earl is on bench for Ireland clash and has been running drills with the backs 

Eddie Jones has revealed that hot-shot back-row Ben Earl has been training to provide emergency cover on the wing.

Earl is yet to start a Test but made his debut from the bench at flanker in the victory over Scotland.

The Saracens rookie can also play No 8 but Jones claims is he is a ‘hybrid’ and he has already been running drills with the backs. 

England flanker Ben Earl may be called upon to play on the wing for England against Ireland

England boss Eddie Jones identified Earl as a player capable of covering multiple positions

‘He could play possibly 13 or possibly blindside winger,’ said Jones. ‘He has done a bit of work for us at blindside winger already. It could eventuate that we use him in a game.

‘It will never happen that a back plays in the forwards full time… but a forward could play in the backs full time. That’s the way the game is going at the moment. 

‘Ben Earl could be potentially someone like that, like the Fijian who plays at 6 and 12 for La Rochelle. 

‘I think those sort of players are going to become massively invaluable as the game keeps going. There’s not much space so you need pace and you need dynamism. I think it is definitely something that could happen.’

The Saracens back row came off the bench against Scotland for his first England Test cap

 

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