The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
RUGBY UNION
England coach Eddie Jones has remained coy on Richard Wigglesworth’s long-term future, despite selecting the Saracens scrum half for the first time for the squad to face the Barbarians.
Wigglesworth could feature for England at Twickenham on Sunday for the first time since the 2015 Rugby World Cup after being drafted into Jones’ 29-man squad for the noncap international.
Saracens’ 18-16 Premiership semi-final defeat at Exeter on Saturday has freed Wigglesworth up for the England call, while leading players from the Chiefs, Wasps and Northampton remain unavailable to face the Barbarians due to club duty.
Jones wants the 33-yearold to prove his worth.
“It’s an opportunity to have a look at him and that’s what the Barbarians game is for,” said Jones of 27-cap half-back Wigglesworth.
“He’s always been a good player and I think he’s been playing a little bit better.
“With Ben Youngs away it’s an opportunity to have a look at him.”
Asked if Wigglesworth can become a great Test
“He’s English isn’t he? I think that’s normal mate? Isn’t that normal?”
player of the future, Jones added: “Well he’s got the ability to be a contributor to the England side at the moment and that’s what I’m looking at.
“It’s definitely a chance for him to state his case.”
Wigglesworth has proved integral to Saracens sealing back-to-back European Champions Cup triumphs, along with last term’s Premiership title.
The former Sale scrum half has previously remained surplus to England requirements under Jones, but recently insisted he had harboured no thoughts of giving up on a Red Rose recall.
Jones remained nonplussed at the notion of any player retiring from international rugby, however, in reacting to Wigglesworth’s continued England ambitions. Asked if Wigglesworth had shown character to keep pushing for a recall, Jones replied: “Well he’s English isn’t he? I just think that’s normal mate? Isn’t that normal?
“He’s a good player, I want to have a look at him.”
Leicester’s Ellis Genge returns to the squad after the Tigers’ 21-20 loss to Wasps, along with Saracens trio Alex Lozowski, Nick Isiekwe and Nathan Earle.
England will need a new captain against the BaaBaas with Dylan Hartley in action in Northampton’s Champions Cup playoff on Friday night.
Jones insisted he will not name his captain until after selecting his starting XV, leaving no guarantee the Argentina tour squad vicecaptains Mike Brown, Danny Care and George Ford are the front-runners for the armband.