SLADE CAN MAKE No 12 ROLE HIS OWN

Eddie Jones tried to sell us a dummy earlier this season when he said he thought Henry slade was a no 13 but i’m very excited by his selection at no 12.

slade (right) can, of course, play 13 which is where he performed well in the summer against Argentina — and could probably also do a job at no 10. But to me he looks to the manor born at 12, where he combines the skills of both positions.

He is a genuine second playmaker but also has the speed and attacking instincts of an outside back which really adds to the attacking threat of the team. He is a quality player who has been stymied a little by the logjam of talent england have in his positions, but this selection now hints at all sorts of possibilities.

if he makes a success of his start at 12 the temptation to move owen Farrell back to 10 will undoubtedly grow.

The thought process is this: Farrell is the key player for england going forward, a leader on the field regardless of whether he is captain — the driving force, decision-maker and totem-pole player. i believe he will be captain sooner rather than later. i think Farrell wants the 10 shirt, just as a football team’s striker wants the no 9 shirt on his back. He could become one of the all-time great 10s and if that is to happen — and it would be very hard on George Ford who has done little wrong in recent years — it would open up a vacancy at 12. A Farrell/slade axis has a formidable feel about it — and Ford is a brilliant guy to have on the bench. The key question about any selection is, does it improve the team? Jones knows that slade at 12 potentially does and having a reason for resting Farrell gives him this priceless opportunity.

Make no mistake, this is slade’s chance and i am sure Farrell will be watching with even greater interest.

elsewhere, the selection of sam Underhill has been well signposted, although i am surprised eddie did not start with his ‘finishers’ — the front row of Harry Williams, Jamie George and ellis Genge — to see how they stack up against a powerful Argentina pack.

But the selection of slade alone makes this team very interesting as the countdown to the World Cup really kicks in.