It’s Joe or Jack for boss Jones
JOE COKANASIGA will battle it out with Jack Nowell to replace Chris Ashton on the England right wing against Wales. Ashton, who made his first Six Nations start for six years in last week’s win over France, is ruled out with a calf strain. Red Rose boss Eddie Jones will consider Nowell, who he dropped to the bench to make way for Ashton’s return.
But he also has Bath wing Cokanasiga available for the first time since being sidelined for 10 weeks with knee ligament damage.
The wing, 21, made a massive impression in the autumn, scoring tries on his first two starts against Japan and Australia. He confirmed both his fitness and form on Saturday with a try in Bath’s 30-13 win over Newcastle.
“I am confident with the knee and ready for the challenge ahead,” said Cokanasiga. “I have been working hard to get back to where I was before.”
Wales are sweating on the fitness of fly-half Dan Biggar after he limped out of Northampton’s 67-17 win over Sale.
Saints boss Chris Boyd insists the early departure of Biggar, who returned from Italy a week ago with a “low-grade” knee ligament strain, was purely “precautionary”.
SCOTLAND out-half Finn Russell was last night at the centre of an injury scare.
Six days before his country’s clash with France he suffered a head knock while playing for Racing 92 and medics refused to let him re-join the action.