Borthwick considers taking a page from Rassie's playbook 

SPOTLIGHT: England head coach Steeve Borthwick could take a page from the Springboks’ playbook to utilise his players in dual roles in the upcoming Nations Series.

Borthwick is pondering playing Ben Earl at inside centre as he looks to bolster the team’s positional depth and flexibility ahead of the 2027 World Cup.

Earl has been selected in his regular No.8 spot for England’s series opener against Australia at Twickenham on Saturday, with Guy Pepper at blindside flanker and rising star Henry Pollock on the bench.

But all three loose forwards could find themselves with backline roles in subsequent November internationals at home to Fiji, New Zealand and Argentina.

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Back-to-back world champions South Africa have pioneered the tactic of a 6-2 or even 7-1 forward-heavy split between forwards and backs on the bench, with ‘hybrid’ player Andre Esterhuizen, a centre who can be drafted into the back row if needed, among the Springboks’ replacements for their match against Japan at Wembley on Saturday.

Packing the eight permitted replacements with forwards as England have done against Australia puts a premium on players who can feature in both the pack and behind the scrum.

While Earl has spent time at inside centre for both Saracens and England, starting him there in an international match would represent a bold move by Borthwick.

‘Ability’

“Ben would be very effective there,” said Borthwick after naming his team to play the Wallabies on Tuesday.

“Is it something you’d want him to experience at club level? Ideally…That’s Saracens’ business, not mine, but I have no hesitation starting him in a Test at No.12 [inside centre] because he’s got that ability.”

Borthwick added: “Maybe, maybe not, it will happen in this Nations Series.

“It’s certainly a factor I’m considering. He’s spent so much time training with the backs, and you can see his skill set and his pace.”

Turning to the possibility of deploying the 20-year-old Pollock in a backline role, Borthwick said: “We’ve been looking at Henry on the wing.

“Henry’s pace is a match for a lot of wingers. That kind of versatility is really important to us.

“Right now, he’s a young man and a loose forward. The situation with Ben is slightly different.

“Ben is such an experienced player and we’ve been investing for a long period with him in the centres.”

In the key position of flyhalf, Borthwick selected George Ford – a veteran of over a hundred Tests to lead England’s attack against the Wallabies.

Ford will continue in the No.10 shirt he wore throughout the recent tour of Argentina and the United States, with Fin Smith on the bench and Marcus Smith omitted from the matchday 23 entirely.

Fin Smith, who was first choice during the Six Nations, missed that tour as he was involved in the British and Irish Lions’ 2-1 series win in Australia.

Marcus Smith was also a member of the Lions squad.

“These are tight calls I’m making with very good players,” said Borthwick.

“I could have selected any one of those three and they would have been brilliant.”