Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

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.

ADVERTISEMENT

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.”

Continue reading below…
Watch: Eddie Jones discusses his 35-man squad

Video Spacer

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

ADVERTISEMENT

“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:

Video Spacer

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

TRENDING
TRENDING Marcus Smith on that substitution and his England plea Marcus Smith on that substitution and his England plea
Search