England’s Crisis at No. 8

On the eve of Eddie Jones England Squad being announced for the autumn internationals, the England coach has selection dilemmas at No. 8.

With First choice and arguably England’s best No.8 Billy Vunipola breaking his arm last weekend in the champions cup, Sam Simmonds out for at least 6 months with an ACL injury and his understudy Nathan Hughes facing disciplinary action and is most likely to be banned; Eddie Jones has a real headache on who will fill the void throughout the 4 autumn internationals.

Here I look through Eddie Jones options:

Ben Morgan

He is an out and out 8 who has international experience and is still only 29. However he last played for England in 2015 and has never been picked under Jones. Morgan this season is in fine form and Jones was in the crowd for his man of the match display at the weekend; he’s a big ball carrier and could slot seamlessly straight into the back row however it remains to be seen if he is in Eddie’s thoughts.

Zach Mercer

Mercer can play across the back row and featured against the Barbarians in the summer. He has started this season at 8 for Bath and has been in fine form; keeping British and Irish Lion Taulupe Faletau out of the starting line up. Mercer has speed, is not afraid to carry the ball and always throws himself into tackles but Jones may have his doubts because of his diminutive size; which may lead to England protecting him against the likes of the all blacks and wallabies.

Don Armand

Armand has been an integral part of Exeter’s success in recent years and it is bemusing why he hasn’t earned an England cap in recent times; he wasn’t named in Jones latest training cap squad last month. Armand is a big ball carrier, good at the breakdown and intelligent in defence. With Chris Robshaw also ruled out of the Autumn internationals it would be quite a shock to not see Armand in the squad; it would say a lot more about Eddie Jones than it would about Armand if he wasn’t named in the squad tomorrow because of his versatility.

James Chisholm

Many people apart from Harlequins fans will probably be thinking who? But let me tell you Chisholm isn’t in this list to make up the numbers, he is here on merit. He can also play across the back row but he has made the 8 shirt his own this season. He’s a huge ball carrier who’s very physical, fantastic in defence and has very similar qualities to Vunipola; he also knows where the try line is. It will be a shock to many if he is in the squad tomorrow – not for me.

Teimana Harrison

Harrison has 5 caps playing at 7 for England;  but is remembered for being carted off after 31 minutes in his last test against Australia in 2016. Harrison is now regularly playing at 8 for Northampton; He is physical and likes to carry the ball but his form has been mixed in the last year. It would be a huge surprise if he is in Eddie Jones thoughts this Autumn.

Jackson Wray

A regular for Saracens who can play across the back row with over 200 appearances. He has won numerous Premiership and Champions cup trophies and has been an able deputy for Vunipola in the 8 shirt at Saracens. So why can’t he deputise on the international scene; Wray is very physical, carries well and is a very consistent performer in the Gallagher premiership but we shall see if Jones has the confidence in Wray to perform on the international stage.

2018, Australia, Ben Morgan, Billy Vunipola, blog, Don Arman, Eddie Jones, Jackson Wray, James Chisholm, Japan, Nathan Hughes, New Zealand, rugby, Sam Simmonds, South Africa, sports, Teimana Harrison, twickenham, Zach Mercer