Returning duo keen to make a point
BATH back Anthony Watson and Exeter hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie have been recalled to the England squad ahead of Saturday’s Autumn Nations Cup game against Wales.
Watson has overcome an ankle problem while Cowan-Dickie (right) returned to action following minor knee surgery when Exeter beat Harlequins on Friday evening.
Northampton full-back George Furbank and Wasps fly-half Jacob Umaga are both injured and not included in England’s 35-man squad as they chase a seventh successive win. They need just a point against Wales to win Pool A and secure a Nations Cup final place – probably against France – on December 5. Eddie Jones’ side beat Wales 33-30 when the countries last met in the Six Nations eight months ago, but while Jones’ team have continued their winning ways since then, Wales have struggled. Their victory over Georgia on Saturday ended a six-match losing run under head coach Wayne Pivac, while they have only beaten England twice from the last eight attempts.