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Eddie Jones eyes shock positional switch for Jack Nowell

England’s Jack Nowell

Eddie Jones has suggested he could pick Jack Nowell at openside flanker and play nine forwards in an alternative approach ahead of England’s Six Nations campaign.

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The versatile Nowell, who plays for Exeter Chiefs, has lined up at wing, centre and full-back, with both club and country taking advantage of his versatility.

Jones raised eyebrows after naming his Six Nations squad on Thursday, saying the 25-year-old could feature as a forward as he ponders an alternative approach with the World Cup looming on the horizon.

Asked what position he sees Nowell in, the England head coach replied: “Seven.”

The Australian added: “He is definitely an option at seven. We haven’t tried him out but he is definitely an option, because he has great ball-carrying, great tackling skill; he puts his head over the ball, he’s a tough little bloke.

“He’s a great option. He can play wing, 13, 15 or seven for us.”

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Watch: Eddie Jones discusses his 35-man squad

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Jones added: “There are great opportunities in the game to change it and we’re looking at opportunities to change it.

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“Maybe one of the opportunities is nine forwards. There is no reason why you can’t play nine forwards. He [an additional forward] could stand on the blindside wing.

“When Japan played Georgia in the final warm-up game before the 2015 World Cup, we played nine forwards and no-one knew.

“The game has become so orthodox, so we have to look at opportunities to change it. Jack Nowell is the one who stands out. Tom Curry and Sam Underhill are the opposite (forwards who could shift into the back line).

“They are as quick as Nowell. They could play in a number of positions on the field.”

Rugby World Cup City Guides – Oita:

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BH 1 hour ago
TJ Perenara clarifies reference to the Treaty in All Blacks' Haka

Nope you're both wrong. Absolutely 100% wrong. You two obviously know nothing about NZ history, or the Treaty which already gives non-Māori "equal" rights. You are ignorant to what the Crown have already done to Māori. I've read it multiple times, attended the magnificent hikoi and witnessed a beautiful moment of Māori and non-Māori coming together in a show of unity against xenophobia and a tiny minority party trying to change a constitutional binding agreement between the Crown and Māori. The Crown have hundreds of years of experience of whitewashing our culture, trying to remove the language and and take away land and water rights that were ours but got stolen from. Māori already do not have equal rights in all of the stats - health, education, crime, etc. The Treaty is a binding constitutional document that upholds Māori rights and little Seymour doesn't like that. Apparently he's not even a Māori anyway as his tribes can't find his family tree connection LOL!!!


Seymour thinks he can change it because he's a tiny little worm with small man syndrome who represents the ugly side of NZ. The ugly side that wants all Māori to behave, don't be "radical" or "woke", and just put on a little dance for a show. But oh no they can't stand up for themselves against oppression with a bill that is a waste of time and money that wants to cause further division in their own indigenous country.


Wake up to yourselves. You can't pick and choose what parts of Māori culture you want and don't want when it suits you. If sport and politics don't mix then why did John Key do the 3 way handshake at the RWC 2011 final ceremony? Why is baldhead Luxon at ABs games promoting himself? The 1980s apartheid tour was a key example of sports and politics mixing together. This is the same kaupapa. You two sound like you support apartheid.

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