Jean de Villiers has one reservation over Ben Earl centre experiment

On the evidence of the past Guinness Six Nations, England seem to be inching ever closer to selecting Ben Earl to start a Test match in the midfield, but that is a move former South Africa centre Jean de Villiers is not convinced by.

The Saracens back-row has stepped into the midfield for England at times over the past year, finishing the match there against Italy in round four of the Six Nations, scoring a try to boot.

His centre game time increased even more in the round five trouncing of Wales, with the 27-year-old filling in for the departed Tommy Freeman after 48 minutes at the Principality Stadium.

But it was Steve Borthwick’s bench selection for the final match of the Championship that suggested he is growing keener on the Earl centre experiment. Prior to the Wales match, there had been cover for the outside backs on the bench, be it Marcus Smith, Elliot Daly or Fin Smith, who would have pushed Marcus Smith to full-back.

Player Carries

1

Ben Earl

14

2

Blair Murray

11

3

Ben Thomas

11

With George Ford and Jack van Poortvliet being the substitutes in Cardiff and Marcus Smith starting at full-back, there was no cover for the back three or centres on the bench. That’s where Earl was suddenly promoted from an option to be used in exceptional circumstances to England’s bona fide outside back cover in case of injury, as was the case.

Borthwick even described the 42-cap international’s midfield performance as “outstanding” and reiterated there is a “possibility” of him starting with a No.12 on his back down the line.

But former Springboks de Villiers and Burger are less sure about such a move. While Burger said his fellow flanker has “got enough gas for it,” he said there is “no chance” of Earl starting in the backs, adding “you pick him as centre at your own peril.”

Speaking on RugbyPass TV’s Boks Office, the pair discussed England’s experiment, and while de Villiers feels Earl can cover the midfield as he has done, he agreed with Burger that he cannot start there.

Few players know what it takes to play in the midfield at Test level more than the 109-cap former Springbok centre de Villiers, and his main reservation is that the things that are “second nature” for a flanker are different to a centre.

“It’s growing into that,” the World Cup winner said. “You’re used to doing certain things. It’s second nature- you’re chasing a ruck as an openside flanker, whereas now in the midfield, you look at other things. You need to get used to that.”

Burger concurred, saying Earl is “used to just chasing the ball, going with it.”

He added: “If you’ve got five good centres, pick them. Don’t pick a flanker to cover them. It’s the same with loose forwards. You’ve got three or six good loose forwards, pick six loose forwards. Don’t pick a lock to cover loose forward.

“He can do a job there as a stopgap. But somewhere, you need a permanent replacement.”