See him here, see him there... Nowell pops up everywhere!

JACK NOWELL’s flashing footwork means he has been given the freedom of the field by Eddie Jones – and the Exeter Chiefs wing says the permission to roam is the best antidote he could have for an injury-hit season.

Nowell was ruled out of the Autumn Internationals with a fractured eye-socket, and then had to recover from an ankle injury to force his way onto the bench for the games against Italy and Wales.

He will be hoping to win his 26th England cap against Scotland and outlines a strategy where Jones wants him coming infield and buzzing around the half-backs and back row looking for gaps.

“Going into the Wales game last year Eddie said to me, ‘You’re not a back – you’re going in as a back row: go into the forwards, come round the corner with them, and get your hands on the ball as much as possible’.

“Against Italy, I had one very clear message from Eddie, which was to get my hands on the ball. He said it doesn’t matter whether it’s off 9, 10...just wherever you pop up keep your hands on the ball as much as possible. That’s a green light to play with a smile on your face.”

Nowell says his role puts a premium on good communication, in particular with half-backs Danny Care and George Ford.

“It has taken a couple of years to know when they’re going to snipe, or what they’re going to do. I often stay behind the ruck and watch the game a bit so I know all those times when I can get in if Danny has a snipe.

“Sometimes you set up a move a couple of rucks before, telling Danny or George where you’ll be coming from. You can be there nine times out of ten and carry the ball on just one of them. It’s about picking the right moment, the right hole, and taking it from there.”

Nowell says England have also been working on kick-chase. “When you have Fordy and Owen Farrell and Mike Brown’s left boot in the backline, it’s pretty nice to watch those boys plug the corners.”