Launchbury set for Wasps return in European Cup
JOE Launchbury will soon be fighting to regain his England jersey and showing Eddie Jones he can still be a major second row force on the international stage.
Wasps boss Lee Blackett has nothing but praise and admiration for his towering colossus for his spirit, and resolution during a lengthy and worrying spell on the sidelines.
The 30-year-old second row, who has 69 England caps, is closing on a long awaited return to the front line having spent the last eight months battling back after knee surgery that put his playing career on the line.
Sustaining such a serious injury against Bath back in April left the forward facing Lions tour heartbreak and a major recovery battle in order to get back onto the field.
But he is hoping to prove his form and fitness in the upcoming European games with Toulouse and Munster, and head coach Blackett, below, is in no doubt Launchbury can force his way back into the Test side and boost his chances of making the World Cup in France in 2023.
Blackett said: “Joe is just a couple of weeks away and that’s great news for everyone here. He picked up a knock on his quad which set him back a little but hopefully he will be fit and ready for the next European games.
“He has been in really good spirits. You see the toll injury can take on players and sometimes it’s best not to talk rugby to them – keep them at a distance and out of meetings. But Joe has been heavily involved the whole time.
He is always watching training and taking part in meetings.
“He is a massive leader and club captain. To go through what he has to endure he deserves a lot of credit. He is just desperate to get back.
“He has loads of life left in his legs and he says he’s never been the quickest so it won’t slow him down! He’s a quality operator and he will soon be back playing for us and then not long before he’s back in an England shirt.”
Launchbury has used his time away from the field to take his coaching badges and learn what will be needed if he does decide to step over to the “other side” when his playing days finish at Wasps.