Eddie Jones has said that Exeter's Jack Nowell “looks more like a rugby player and less like a bodybuilder” as the Cornish winger was re-selected in Eddie Jones' Six Nations squad.
Nowell has not won a cap since the 2019 Six Nations opener with Scotland after a frustratingly long run of injuries and setbacks.
Despite owning a pub in his Cornish home of Newlyn, Nowell has benefitted from giving up alcohol in order to improve his game. Losing over a stone and a half in weight, Jones has been impressed with Nowell's recent performances.
Jones said: “Watching him play on Saturday night for Exeter against Glasgow, he was bouncing out of tackles, he had huge workrate, huge appetite for the ball. That's the sort of player we remember.”
Former England full-back Mike Brown said to the PA that Nowell was “the best wing I've played alongside, and I've played alongside a lot of unbelievable wingers.” He continued: “He does things that other wingers can't do.”
Owen Farrell
Owen Farrell has only recently returned to training following an ankle injury picked up in November's 32-15 victory over Australia at Twickenham.
As captain, Jones decided to make an exception for Farrell's inclusion in the squad. Players such as Sam Underhill have missed out through playing little rugby in recent weeks. Whereas Farrell is expected to drop straight back into the team.
In professional sport, the relationship between coach and captain are a vitally important. Jones sees Farrell as the natural leader of this group, an inspiration both on and off the field.
In Farrell's absence against South Africa in November, Harlequins Marcus Smith ran the show at fly-half. It is expected that Smith will stay in the 10 shirt, with Farrell playing at inside centre.
On Farrell, Jones said: “He's due to play this week. He has another training week and then we'll see if he's eligible for selection. We'll have to see where he's up to.”
Notable omissions
There were some notable omissions from Eddie Jones' squad on Tuesday. Namely, that of Sale's Manu Tuilagi, Bath's Sam Underhill and Saracens' Elliott Daly and the Vunipola brothers.
On Tuilagi, he said: “He's had a wee setback. But we'll have to wait and see where he's up to. He will need to get some good training and play a few games.”
Despite Tuilagi being back in training and playing games, he added: “But, if we were 100% optimistic, we'd say yes. If we're realistic it's probably a 50/50.”
Jones further suggested that Daly and Underhill could feature towards the end of the Six Nations. A lack of match fitness and freshness was the reason they were left out.
Daly played in Saracens defeat by Gloucester on 8 January, while Underhill is close to a return from a concussion he picked up in action on 26 December.
However, Jones said that the door is not shut on the Vunipola's international careers. He told the trio, who have been a core part of Eddie Jones' team: “They all have areas they need to work on in their games to come back into the team. They've got to play at a level where I need to pick them.”
Scotland
England kick off their campaign with a trip to Murrayfield to face Scotland. With full crowds now expected following an easing of coronavirus restrictions, the Calcutta Cup encounter will be a highly energised affair.
A bullish Jones said: “We're looking forward to taking it to them.”
Jones was full of praise of Scotland's team and individual players who are at the top of their game. He said: “They have a number of good players in their team that are operating close to their best. In particular, Finn Russell and Stuart Hogg and Russell and Richie in the back row.”
He continued: “They had a pretty good autumn series. They have a competitive scrum, and we know it will be a very tough game.”
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Written by Ben Redwood
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