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A 13 man shortlist of England's Number Eight options and their 'pros' and 'cons'

By Alex Shaw
Brad Shields, Dave Ewers and Zach Mercer (Getty Images)

In the world of Eddie Jones, it never rains but it pours, it seems.

Having already lost Sam Simmonds to a long-term injury and having an expected suspension hanging over the head of Nathan Hughes, England saw their starting number eight, and arguably most influential player, Billy Vunipola break his arm for the third time in a year at the weekend.

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With Vunipola and Hughes having played the bulk of minutes for England at number eight over the last three seasons, Jones is now in a predicament over who to turn to for the upcoming autumn internationals.

To make matters worse, the versatile and experienced Chris Robshaw has also gone down with injury and though he was unlikely to be the man tasked with filling the eight jersey, the loss of experience will have a knock-on effect on the entire back row unit.

We have rounded up all the possible options Jones could look at to fill the berth when he announces the squad tomorrow, with pros and cons on each of the candidates.

Continue reading below…

Watch: Warren Gatland speaks about his selections for the autumn internationals, including the uncapped Jonah Holmes.

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Don Armand, Exeter Chiefs

The people’s champion, it seems. Fans have been clamouring for Armand’s inclusion since he became eligible for England, but as of yet, Jones has been reluctant to use him in all but the most serious of injury crises or shortages of available players.

Could losing those four back rowers be enough to force Jones’ hand?

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Pros: Brings the physicality Jones likes in back rowers, a good ball-handler and has the engine to play at a high level for 80 minutes.

Cons: Little international experience, plays in unfavoured Exeter system and doesn’t carry enough in the tight, apparently.

Don Armand (Getty Images)

Zach Mercer, Bath

The coming force, Mercer has been making people sit up and take notice of his abilities in the Gallagher Premiership and Heineken Champions Cup for over a year now. He was involved with the England set-up last season as an apprentice and now, with another year of experience under his belt, the calls are getting louder for Mercer to be involved.

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Pros: Brings alternative ways to win the battle at the gain-line, more mobile than England’s current back row options and is an adept operator at the breakdown, too.

Cons: Little international experience and deemed too lightweight for the grunt work by some.

James Haskell, Northampton Saints

Haskell is by far the most experienced option at Jones’ potential disposal over the next month of international rugby. He has fallen out of favour with England since multiple injuries last season, but it shouldn’t be forgotten that he played a key role in England’s early success under Jones.

Pros: Wealth of international experience, versatility to cover across the back row and packs a punch in the tight, as both a carrier and a tackler.

Cons: Hasn’t had the hottest of starts to his time at Northampton, not the most adept ball-handler and has had the seven jersey, Jones’ preferred position for him, snaffled by Tom Curry.

James Haskell in action for the British and Irish Lions (Getty Images)

Ben Morgan, Gloucester

Despite not featuring for England under Jones, Morgan has picked a good time to hit form and put his injury woes behind him. He has been impressive in recent weeks for Gloucester and they are a club that Jones has frequently been watching in the 2018/19 season.

Pros: Closest to a like-for-like replacement for Vunipola, in a good vein of form and another who can pick up the tough yards close to the ruck.

Cons: Moderate international experience but hasn’t been involved in the set-up under Jones, Gloucester have not proven a popular club for the Australian and he is, you would suspect, either the starting number eight or not involved at all.

Brad Shields, Wasps

Most people are expecting Shields to be included tomorrow, having previously been involved in South Africa earlier this year, but could he be included as a potential number eight? He has been talked about as an option for England on the flanks, but he spent plenty of time at eight during his final season with the Hurricanes.

Pros: Solid ball-handler, offers ability at the breakdown and has a good understanding of upcoming opponents, not least so the All Blacks.

Cons: Not the explosive carrier that some of the other options are, little international experience and not the most powerful around the fringes.

Getty Images

Matt Kvesic, Exeter Chiefs

The former Gloucester openside has been revelling in his role at the base of the scrum this season with Exeter and it’s something which has put his carrying ability front and centre. He now looks one of the more well-rounded back rowers in the Premiership.

Pros: Breakdown ability, versatility to cover multiple positions and an underrated carrying game in the tight.

Cons: Not a favoured player of Jones, little international experience and may not be considered to be a ‘natural eight’.

Mark Wilson, Newcastle Falcons

Another flanker impressing in the eight jersey for his club, Wilson has the upper hand on Kvesic in that he has been regularly involved in England training camps over the last year. He is another player to have started the 2018/19 season in good form and there are similar calls for Wilson to be picked that there are for Armand and Mercer, especially since Robshaw has also now been sidelined.

Pros: Versatility across the back row, has a skill set that is admired by Jones and brings an energy and work rate defensively that England could be missing with Robshaw out.

Cons: Relatively inexperienced as a number eight, used to the England environment but not overflowing with international experience and not the powerhouse carrier that Jones has favoured in the past three seasons.

Dave Ewers, Exeter Chiefs

Not a regular starting eight for Exeter but someone who potentially ticks a number of the boxes Jones is particularly keen on at the position. Touch wood, he seems to have shaken off the worst of his recent injury issues and has been quietly finding form in the south-west.

Pros: Very powerful around the fringes, makes dominant gain-line tackles in defence and possesses the natural size that Jones craves.

Cons: Little international experience and not frequently playing number eight in the Premiership.

James Chisholm, Harlequins

A former Junior World Player of the Year and England U20 captain, Chisholm’s opportunities at the senior level have yet to manifest. He has been a consistent performer in an inconsistent Quins side over the last couple of years and has naturally filled out and become more physical since his U20s days.

Pros: Wins at the gain-line in alternative ways, impressive mobility around the park and endeavours to keep phases alive whenever possible.

Cons: Little international experience, doesn’t tick the size box for Jones and has, internationally, lived in the shadow of Robshaw and Jack Clifford at Quins.

Teimana Harrison, Northampton Saints

Another ‘undersized’ option to go with Mercer and Chisholm. Harrison was initially favoured by Jones and England after the 2015 Rugby World Cup, but he was unable to cement himself into the side and his opportunities have been sparse since he received the shepherd’s crook in the first half of the Test against Australia in Sydney in 2016.

Pros: Wins at the gain-line in alternative ways, offers impact at the breakdown and brings an edge to his game.

Cons: Fallen out of favour with England, little international experience and seen by some as a flanker, rather than a number eight.

Jackson Wray, Saracens

If there’s one thing we know about Jones, it’s that he likes a Saracens player. That said, Wray and Alex Goode have been the two noteworthy absentees from England during the Australian’s tenure, despite impressing consistently at club level. Is Wray the reliable option Jones needs to get through this tricky patch?

Pros: Brings enviable work rate and stamina, has a good all-round game and enjoys chemistry with much of England’s current pack.

Cons: Little international experience, not a powerhouse carrier of the ball and Jones has shown no indications to this point that Wray is on his radar.

Jono Ross, Sale Sharks

Ross qualifies for England through his grandmother and after an impressive 2017/18 season with Sale, his name has been mentioned a few times in regard to international selection. He has experience of playing eight at club level and combines well with England’s current openside, Tom Curry.

Pros: Impressive work rate on both sides of the ball, impact at the contact area and not afraid of going to work in the tight.

Cons: Little international experience, not a powerhouse carrier and lacks the dynamism to win at the gain-line in alternative ways.

Ben Earl, Saracens

Earl was an unused tourist for England this summer in South Africa, despite still being eligible to play at the World Rugby U20 Championship. He is more likely an option for England to look at after the Rugby World Cup, but with so many back rowers going down, Jones could turn to him earlier than expected.

Pros: Extremely mobile, wins at the gain-line in alternative ways and brings the work rate and energy that is expected of Saracens players.

Cons: Little international experience, possibly not seen as a ‘natural eight’ and questions over whether, at this point in his career, he could make the hard yards around the contact area in international rugby.

In other news: Kurtley Beale talks about the effect of wearing the indigenous jersey with England’s upcoming opponents, Australia.

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Trevor 1 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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Bull Shark 5 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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