Jack Nowell should be given another chance to shine for England at No 13

As has often been the case in the past, England’s biggest selection conundrum for the Six Nations comes in midfield. The absence of Owen Farrell and Manu Tuilagi gives Eddie Jones the opportunity to try something different. He has the chance to develop his ‘New England’ a step further and perhaps even implement a different style that will remain in place until the World Cup next year.

Eddie won’t address the fact Farrell and Tuilagi are missing with the squad in great detail on Monday when they assemble in Brighton. It can be disheartening to feel like you are just standing in for someone or keeping the jersey warm and I do wonder if, in Tuilagi’s case, that has been a problem in the past. He is such a valuable asset when fit and firing – and so popular with his teammates – that it has felt as if anyone who has worn the No 13 jersey has struggled to make it their own as a result.

For this Six Nations, I would like to see Jack Nowell deployed there. He has only done it once before for England – the ill-fated match against Japan in the autumn of 2018 that effectively ended the Test careers of Danny Care, Alex Lozowski and Zach Mercer – but I believe it is time to take another look.

It is incredible to think that Nowell has only made five appearances and three starts for England since then but that is indicative of the problems he has had with injuries and getting back to his best form amid so many interruptions. It has been well documented how he has decided to stop drinking alcohol, how he looks and feels in his best shape for ages, and it is showing on the pitch. On top of that, Eddie is putting great emphasis on versatility at the moment. He has talked in the past – perhaps ever so slightly tongue in cheek – about