No joke, Nowell has the skills to be Eddie’s Tipuric

SO, EDDIE Jones reckons Jack Nowell can play flanker? Well if that’s the case, then Wales have their own man who can do it all. His name is Justin Tipuric!

I know Eddie’s comments about Jack hit the headlines and a lot of people laughed at them, but I think the England head coach does have a serious point to make and that is the more all-round players you can build into your side, the better your team is going to be. I totally agree with that.

I don’t think for one moment that Jack is going to start a game or be involved in the back row for England in the Six Nations, though he certainly is someone who has the raw ability to play in a range of positions. He can run, kick, pass, carry and is excellent at the contact area. Justin is the same.

Rugby is changing so, so quickly now and a world class player today is someone like Justin who is an outand-out seven, but who would also be just as comfortable at centre or on the wing.

New Zealand have had those sorts of players for a while now. As usual, they’ve set the standard for the rest of the world to follow.

Dane Coles is their first-choice hooker, but he has the ball handling skills and pace of a back. And remember that outrageous dummy Brodie Retallick threw to score against Australia in the Rugby Championship?

That’s the type of ability all coaches want from their players these days, so let’s not be too hasty to jump on Eddie’s back. He’s made a tongue-in-cheek point but with a serious message. He knows rugby is evolving and is trying to take his team with it.

That is to be applauded because in World Cup year, no one can afford to stand still.