Advertisement

England wrecking-ball Ben Earl revelling in his new licence-to-roam role

England wrecking-ball Ben Earl revelling in his new licence-to-roam role

England have created a roaming role for Ben Earl in a bid to add power and incision to their new-look attack.

The Saracens No8 revealed he has been given licence to strike right across the field, wherever he can deliver maximum gainline damage.

The 26-year-old scored his first Twickenham try as England edged out Wales 16-14 on Saturday.

Earl was as conspicuous for his bullish No8 break score as for cutting attacking lines through the centre channels at Twickenham — and has now explained his new hybrid role.

"Richard Wigglesworth has been really clear with me in terms of giving me a bit of a free role in where I pop up," explained Earl. "It suits my game massively. Last week in Italy, for example, I probably carried a bit more off nine than I did this week.

"For the try, the ball popped out of the side of the scrum, so I don't really know how I managed it. I was just trying to get as wide as I could, and the next thing I knew the try-line was below me, so I just reached out and touched down.

Ben Earl opened the scoring for England (Action Images via Reuters)
Ben Earl opened the scoring for England (Action Images via Reuters)

"I was buzzing, that's my first try at Twickenham and it contributed to a winning cause, so I'm very pleased with that."

England have adopted a run-first mentality in this Six Nations in a bid to inch past a prior over-reliance on tactical kicking.

The one-score wins over Italy and Wales indicate that aim remains a work in progress, but England have now started a Six Nations with consecutive victories for the first time in five years.

England dominated the early exchanges without scoring, before losing both Ollie Chessum and Ethan Roots to the sin-bin.

Wales claimed a penalty try on Roots's yellow card, then Alex Mann ran in a well-worked score for Warren Gatland's callow but exciting side.

England trailed 14-5 at the break, despite Earl's try, but ground back steadily, thanks to Fraser Dingwall's score and then two match-winning penalties from George Ford.

Earl paid tribute to Jamie George for quickly warming to the England captaincy.

"The way that we built the cornerstones of our game during the World Cup, then coming into this, I felt like we had to improve. Jamie's taken on that burden of responsibility with such aplomb. Some of the younger boys are loving being around the camp."