LIST | The 5 players Eddie Jones has tried to switch position

Friday, 15 January 2021 at 09:30

byRugby Rucker

England head coach Eddie Jones has been almost obsessed with crafting the perfect 'hybrid player' to cover positions in the backs and forwards.

Most recently, the Aussie has floated the idea of deploying nine forwards in Saturday's Autumn Nations Cup opener at Twickenham in wariness of Georgia's forward power.

Here we look at five players who the 60-year-old has thought about trying in radically different positions:

1. Ben Curry (Flanker to scrum-half)

An outrageous report back in January suggested that he was considering moving the Sale flanker to play at scrum-half. I thought either Jones had enjoyed way too much sherry over Christmas with his mince pies, or he has gone completely mad.

2. Jack Nowell (Winger to flanker)

The startling revelations, which were delivered with a mischievous grin in January 2019, were received by bemusement and responded to by a speechless media pack. Until this day, Jones insists Nowell could still make the transformation.

3. Ben Earl (Flanker to centre)

The young Bristol Bears forward has been training to cover both outside centre and wing since his first call-up back in January as a result of Jones’s new six-two split among his replacements. It's now being reported he could start in the backline against Georgia this weekend.

4. Ollie Thorley (Winger to flanker)

The Gloucester winger, who only made his debut in the final round of the 2020 Six Nations, has been running as a flanker in training this week. Despite being the fastest England player of all-time, he's found himself taking part in line-out and scrummaging drills.

5. George Ford (Fly-half to scrum-half)

With Willi Heinz the only natural No 9 to join established first choice Ben Youngs in the 31-man Rugby World Cup squad, Jones revealed that Ford would be his cover in the position.