Tuesday 13 January 2015 13:32, UK
With Ben Morgan out of the Six Nations, Stuart Lancaster has a task on his hands to find a suitable replacement. Who should Lancaster pick at No 8 for the campaign? We take a look at four of the contenders for the jersey.
Billy Vunipola - Saracens
Premiership appearances: 10
Carries: 139
Metres gained: 508
Tackles: 69
Turnovers won: 7
Vunipola arguably has the most to prove. Having made his debut in the 2013 Six Nations, the strong Saracens No 8 had made the England jersey his own before poor performances in the autumn internationals led to Morgan being called up to replace him.
Though Vunipola's statistics do not measure up very well when compared with the four other contenders, he has played less games than the others this season. Thomas Waldrom leads the league with 167 carries, but he averages close to 13 carries per game, while Vunipola averages just shy of 14 carries per game.
While he may not lead the other four in any particular statistic listed, his overall ranking in each category makes him the strongest player overall. But does that tick the right box for Lancaster?
Steffon Armitage - Toulon
Top 14 appearances: 13
Carries: 96
Metres gained: 311
Tackles: 82
Turnovers won: 13
The name that won't go away. Armitage hasn't played for England since the 2010 Six Nations but his performances since then culminated him in being crowed European Player of the Year last season.
Though it's difficult to compare the statisitcs of Armitage to the other four players when he plays in a diffrent competition, the stat in which he is top is unsurprisingly turnovers won. Armitage is a natural openside flanker but can play No 8, and with England's captain Chris Robshaw occupying the No 7 jersey despite being more of a blindside, Armitage could potentially fill the role of the fetcher in the team.
Stuart Lancaster has said many times that he would pick a foreign-based player in 'exceptional circumstances' but it has not yet led to an England call up for Armitage. Could the injury to Morgan be the final straw that forces Lancaster to cash in on that exceptional circumstance?
Thomas Waldrom - Exeter Chiefs
Premiership appearances: 13
Carries: 167
Metres gained: 837
Tackles: 85
Turnovers won: 5
Thomas Waldrom is a name that hasn't been mentioned as readily as some others but his attacking statistics in Aviva Premiership are by far the best of all the candidates. The Chiefs No 8 has scored nine tries already this season - more than any other player in the competition.
His 167 carries also place him at the top of the pile in that category. With those carries he has gained 837 metres, the third highest in the competition behind outside backs Sinoti Sinoti and Ben Foden. Defensively he is behind only Dave Ewers and Steffon Armitage in tackles made, but in turnovers won he has the lowest number with just five in 13 games.
Waldrom made his international debut during England's tour of South Africa in 2012 but has only featured four times for his country since then. His final Test came against Ireland during the 2013 Six Nations after which Morgan and Vunipola found favour with Stuart Lancaster.
Born in New Zealand, Waldrom moved to Leicester Tigers in 2010 where he became a fan favourite with his big carries and try-scoring efforts, but it is at Exeter that he has really excelled. Is a ball-carrying No 8 what England need?
Nick Easter - Harlequins
Premiership appearances: 12
Carries: 145
Metres gained: 421
Tackles: 79
Turnovers won: 11
Is there an end to the road for Easter? The Harlequins No 8 doesn't seem to think so. Easter's outstanding performances this season have capped off a strong period for the former England man since being exiled from the international scene in 2012.
Easter's form in the first half of this season has seen rallying calls from all around English rugby to see him handed another England chance – not least of which came from England's most capped loose forward, Lawrence Dallaglio. Harlequins forward Easter is third in the Premiership in carries for a loose forward and fourth for metres gained.
While Vunipola and Waldrom both outstrip Easter in metres gained, of the five contenders it is only Waldrom who has had more carries in domestic competition this season. And with 11 turnovers, he is only two behind Armitage.
At 36 and with more than three years since his last international appearance it is unlikely that Nick Easter will earn a recall to the England setup, but has he shown enough to warrant a return to the squad, or is it more important for the national team to focus on the future?
Dave Ewers - Exeter Chiefs
Premiership appearances: 12
Carries: 102
Metres gained: 239
Tackles: 133
Turnovers won: 7
Zimbabwean-born Ewers moved to England at the age of 13 and quickly put himself on track in English rugby with his inclusion in the Exeter Chiefs academy. Qualifying for England, Ewers was selected in the Saxons squad in January last year, and on the back of his performances for both club and country was added to Stuart Lancaster's England training squad ahead of the autumn internationals, though he was released without earning a cap.
Capable of playing blindside or No 8, Ewers has already scored four tries for his team this season, and to prove he's not just an attacking player, has made the second-most tackles for a back-rower in the current Aviva Premiership campaign.
Ewers will still be 24 by the time Easter turns 37, so a big draw card for the 6ft 4in Chiefs man is that if he is picked by Lancaster – and is successful in the Six Nations – he has the potential to play for England for many years to come.
Who should Stuart Lancaster pick to replace Ben Morgan in his Six Nations squad? Tweet us @SkySportsRugby with the player you would choose.
