One distinct aspect of Welsh play fed into England picking Nowell
Jack Nowell lasted only 16 minutes in his first England start in 28 months in the February 13 win over Italy, but he still did enough in that brief cameo to justify getting chosen again to wear the No11 jersey when Wales visit Twickenham this Saturday.
The Exeter winger took an early knock to his head at the Stadio Olimpico in the Guinness Six Nations game and the decision by referee Damon Murphy to briefly allow him to play on before he was taken away for a head injury assessment was one of the main talking points to emerge from that match.
Nowell spent last week back in England camp, chosen as part of the 25-strong squad named by Jones for the fallow week training gathering in London. This was where he began his progress through the return to play protocols and his recovery has now resulted in his selection to face the Welsh in this weekend’s game.
It represents a huge vote of confidence in Nowell, who was only sent on an 80th-minute replacement for the opening round defeat to Scotland as Jones has chosen Joe Marchant and Max Malins to start that match on the wings.
Marchant was switched into midfield in Rome to accommodate the inclusion of Nowell, but the omission on Tuesday evening of the Harlequins player from the reduced 25-man England squad paved the way for Jones to give Nowell his backing for the second successive match. Marchant, though, was dramatically recalled to the squad on Thursday night when chosen No12 Manu Tuilagi was ruled out injured and that midfield vacancy won’t be filled until pre-game Saturday.
'It was a bit like, ‘Oh s***, sorry mate, I didn’t realise that. But like I said, he was the first person to text me'@ExeterChiefs @nowellsy15 is back in the England squad after overhauling his lifestyle. He dives deep with @heagneyl ??? on what it tookhttps://t.co/A1AJ3oQiZT
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 23, 2022
“Jack has had good training,” assured Jones when asked why he was encouraged to go with Nowell in what is a make-or-break game for England’s title chances. “We picked him because he was in good form. We want that work rate type winger which is Jack. He started the game well against Italy and unfortunately because of circumstances missed the rest of the game, but he has come back, trained really well and he will give us something a bit different. And particularly he is a very physical winger and we know the Welsh backs are particularly physical.”
Charlie Ewels was another player promoted from the Murrayfield bench to start at Stadio Olimpico who has now held onto his starting berth against the Welsh as Jones elected to drop Nick Isiekwe to the bench to accommodate the return of skipper Courtney Lawes, who starts at No6 with Maro Itoje joining Ewels in the second row.
“Good work rate,” said Jones when asked for his thinking regarding keeping Ewels as a starter. “He has been really working on his defensive part of the game, been doing a lot of early morning sessions with the terminator, Nick Isiekwe.
“They have been working out together early in the mornings before breakfast, working on their defensive skills. and we are pleased with the way both those young guys are going and (Ollie) Chessum. There is nothing between then but Charlie has got a little bit of an edge and experience. He is a very good lineout student, so he helps Maro in that way in running the lineouts.”
Comments on RugbyPass
A Turtle has more pace and leg drive than Owen Franks, so it’s a good thing he only had to run 90 metres for that try.
2 Go to commentsOh Tamati Tua was in the vastly over-rated Leon MacDonalds Blues system? Well, no wonder he was wasted, much like Emoni Narawa and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens under MacDonald. now look at them. Good thing Tua isn’t eligible, the Aussies latch on to any player who isn’t tied down.
2 Go to commentsMark Telea is a lot of things, but a defensive juggernaut has never been one of them. There will be far bigger tests in that regard for the youngster.
10 Go to commentsLove and respect to Fiji but not a chance outside of 7s
4 Go to commentsGood summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
2 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
2 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
1 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
5 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
45 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
45 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
5 Go to comments