Tuesday 20 January 2015 20:31, UK
Wasps flanker James Haskell will happily move over to No 8 if England coach Stuart Lancaster wants him to during the Six Nations.
Haskell has settled in at openside with his club since returning from a spell in France but, with Ben Morgan ruled out for the series by a broken leg, Lancaster is looking at replacement options for the squad he will name on Wednesday.
Billy Vunipola fell out of favour last autumn, but has been in fine form for Saracens recently, and his name will be to the fore along with Exeter Chiefs' Thomas Waldrom and Harlequins veteran Nick Easter.
His chances will have been no harm by a performance Wasps coach Dai Young rated as "outstanding" in the recent 23-3 win at Harlequins in the European Champions Cup.
Haskell said: "I'd do it without thinking about it. I've played what I think are some of my best games for England at eight. But you never know what's going to happen.
"I think there is enough cover in the squad to cope with the injuries.
"Steffon Armitage is interesting because everyone chats about him, but he's contracted abroad and knows the rules.
"Nick Easter's been playing well for a while and his addition to the squad if it happened would be a good one.
"But I think there are other number eights out there playing well who could slot in there. Essentially it's more about the balance of the back row than the numbers on the shirts."
Haskell was also asked about former team-mate Danny Cipriani, who is expected to miss out on one of three fly-half berths, with Lancaster preferring Owen Farrell, George Ford and Stephen Myler.
Cipriani has been linked with a move to dual European champions Toulon and Haskell would not blame him for testing himself in the Top 14 should he be overlooked again.
"I think the problem is you can be hanging on your entire life," Haskell added. "Sometimes your face doesn't fit, or there's too much competition around, and you need to make the right decision to suit yourself and suit your game.
"I don't regret one minute going to France, it was one of the best experiences of my life.
"If I thought it would have affected my England chances, because the rules were different then, then I probably wouldn't go. If I was on the fringe of the squad looking to play rugby and I had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go and play in France, you've got to go and play in France, haven't you?"
