Borthwick: Earl could be very effective at centre

BEN Earl could start at inside centre this autumn as Steve Borthwick looks to increase England’s positional flexibility ahead of the World Cup.

- DUNCAN BECH

Selecting Henry Pollock on the wing and Guy Pepper in the backline - both players are flankers - are also experiments under consideration for later in a campaign that opens against Australia on Saturday.

Earl has been picked at No 8 against the Wallabies with Pepper operating at blindside flanker and Pollock present on the bench, but the trio might be given new roles in the fixtures against Fiji, New Zealand and Argentina that complete the schedule.

‘The trend of stacking the bench with forwards - a tactic England will use at Allianz Stadium this weekend - makes players who can operate in the pack and backline especially valuable.

Earl has accumulated minutes at inside centre for England and Saracens during matches, but handing him the number 12 jersey would be an ambitious step forward.