Steve Borthwick believes Ben Earl can be an option at centre for England (Image: Getty)
boss has provided a blow to Fraser Dingwall, Charlie Atkinson and Max Ojomoh by suggesting Ben Earl could start future Test matches at centre. Earl impressed during a 30-minute cameo in the role during the thrashing of Wales on Saturday.
The 27-year-old usually plays in the back row but performed well as an inside centre against Wales. Injuries and a lack of depth have made it a problem position for England. Borthwick suggested ahead of the final round of Six Nations matches that Earl was next in line to play at centre. The England head coach was delighted by what he saw.
“Ben Earl, we’ve played Ben Earl in the centre during games plenty of times before,” Borthwick said afterwards. “I think there’s a possibility of starting him at centre at some stage in the future. He’s such a quality player and I thought he was outstanding there in the second half.”
However, Earl’s emergence as an option for the position may threaten the international careers of Dingwall, Atkinson and Ojomah. All three have impressed for their clubs but only Dingwall has made his England debut, appearing three times under Borthwick.
Atkinson and Ojomah have only played for England A and may struggle for a promotion to the senior squad if Earl is preferred in their position.
Earl revealed before the Wales game that he had been used as a centre in training. He said: “I do some bits but I don’t do it all because I have a job to do as [a member of the] pack but as and when I will do a bit of training there.
England star Ben Earl impressed as a makeshift centre against Wales (Image: Getty)
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“It is not something you overthink. It is just rugby at the end of the day, half the stuff I do is as a 12 anyway. It is all pretty complementary. It is not too dissimilar.”
England finished as runners-up to France in the Six Nations despite thrashing Wales 68-14 in Cardiff. Borthwick said the result was a sign of a young England side’s growth under his management. “I wanted the players to play big and fast, aggressive with the ball and that’s exactly what they did,” he said.
“That’s a sign that this young team just embraces challenges and it is growing and developing fast.I think the team has been progressing for a period of time. You can see that growth. We were just falling short before of getting those actual wins but the team has stuck to the process.”