For Ben Earl, the journey to becoming an England starter was long and frustrating, marked by setbacks and moments of doubt. Yet, once he established himself as a crucial part of the team, he shifted into overdrive, culminating in his current role as England’s player of the tournament and a spot in the World Cup semi-final.
Earl’s rugby journey began with representing England at various age-group levels, including a memorable appearance in a World Under-20s final that ended in defeat to New Zealand.
While he was consistently included in Eddie Jones’ England squads for two years, it wasn’t until 2020 that the athletic number eight made his international debut, albeit coming off the bench.
Remarkably, over the next three years, he added 14 more caps to his name, all as a replacement player. Concerns over his lack of bulk led to Jones sidelining him, despite Earl’s excellent performances for Saracens, where he was named the Premiership player of the year in 2022.
A turning point came when Steve Borthwick assumed leadership, with Earl being included in the World Cup squad. Finally, in the last August warm-up against Wales, he earned his first start for England.
Notably, it was a high tackle ban that created an opportunity for Earl in France, which long-time understudy Billy Vunipola might come to rue.
Earl’s performance against Argentina was a strong start, and he continued to improve throughout the tournament. However, it was in the match against Fiji where he truly shone, making two crucial late breaks that set up England’s game-winning kicks.
Looking at the squad statistics, it’s evident that Earl has played a pivotal role. He leads in carries (48), meters made (372), line breaks (5), and defenders beaten (17). His 60 tackles are a remarkable 16 more than the next-best player.
England’s defense coach, Kevin Sinfield, recently praised Earl, suggesting that he would be a strong contender for a spot in a current World XV. Earl, while appreciative of the compliment, remains focused on the present, noting that his remarkable journey happened quickly, and he does not take it for granted.
Earl’s style of play sets him apart as a non-traditional number eight, as he prepares to face off against South African counterpart Duane Vermeulen, who holds an 18kg advantage in weight. Earl recognizes the challenge but is determined to embrace the battle.
“Anyone who’s played against him says he’s one of the smartest players as well as the biggest,” Earl said of Vermeulen. “I’ll really relish that battle. It’s sink or swim. Let’s hope I swim.”
He acknowledges the influence of Billy Vunipola but strives to carve his own path and play to his strengths. Earl’s ability to maintain high energy levels and last 80 minutes was evident against Fiji, and England is planning to rely on this attribute in the final quarter against the favored Springbok team.
As Earl aptly puts it, “We know test matches for 60 minutes are normally nip and tuck. It’s almost always now down to that final 20, and that’s not lost on us.” Earl’s emergence as a vital player on the team could be pivotal in their quest for World Cup glory.
