Nowell on course for Japan despite emergency surgery
Exeter wing undergoes appendix procedure Mcconnochie likely to face Italy but Slade out
Jack Nowell will travel to the World Cup on Sunday despite requiring emergency surgery to remove his appendix during England’s warmweather training camp in Italy.
Nowell spent four days in hospital after having his appendix removed last week, a fresh blow to the Exeter Chiefs wing who was already recovering from an ankle injury that had ruled him out of England’s first three World Cup warm-up matches.
He underwent keyhole surgery at a hospital in Treviso, just north of Venice, after falling ill with appendicitis last Wednesday. He was released to join up with the squad again on Sunday.
Rob Baxter, Exeter’s director of rugby, had said last week that Nowell was already “touch and go” to make the World Cup in Japan because of the injury he sustained during the Gallagher Premiership final in June. He had been ruled out of Friday’s match against Italy at St James’ Park, England’s final game before they head to Japan, but had been expected to return to running this week.
The operation, however, has now further knocked his hopes of returning to contact training, with an average recovery time of around two weeks.
It is understood that Nowell will definitely travel to Japan on Sunday and England are hopeful he will be fit for the key pool matches, against Argentina on Oct 5 and France on Oct 12. He is a certainty to be included in England’s match squad if fit.
John Mitchell, England’s defence coach, said Nowell was on the mend but had lost a considerable amount of weight after his time in hospital. “His general ankle progression is in line with where he needs to be,” said Mitchell. “He’s right on target for us. I don’t know how much weight he’s lost but he looks lean. He’s a resilient b----r, a good character and not a lot gets him down. He’s in the 31. I don’t think you’ll see us making any decision on Sept 8. We’ll be backing Jack. Everyone’s got niggles and bits and pieces. You’ve got to back and support that risk.
“We’ve got to back our instincts, our own intuition and our own strategies rather than falling into the trap of being hasty. We back Jack and we’ll support him to get to that point [being fit]. We wouldn’t be doing what we’re doing unless we thought that’s the way that he’s heading. There will come a point where we have to make a decision on what’s best for the team.”
Nowell, speaking before his illness, had admitted that his run of injuries – which had included knee and shoulder problems – had been tough to take. “I’ve struggled with my injuries,” said Nowell. “Normally, I’m pretty positive and can find something to work on, but I have struggled. You feel a little that you are letting them [team-mates] down that you can’t be out there all the time. You play because you want to play every single game so to be told, or for your body to tell you that you can’t play, is the most frustrating thing.
“When I tore my hamstring in training in the autumn international, I didn’t believe it. The phys
‘I don’t know how much weight Jack has lost but he looks lean. We’ll support him to get fit again’
ios were telling me and the scans were telling me but it was killing me to be told I would be out for six or seven weeks. I was in denial.”
Meanwhile, Henry Slade, Nowell’s Exeter team-mate, is also set to miss Friday’s match because of a knee injury that kept him on the sidelines during England’s double header against Wales and the match against Ireland.
Ruaridh Mcconnochie, the rookie Bath wing, is in line to make his debut against Italy, having missed the two games against Wales with successive hip and hamstring problems.
“He has been looking good and is on track,” Mitchell added. “Tuesday’s session is our closest to game training and that will give us the best indication.
“Rory is a wonderful young man, it is a new phase for him and he is extremely excited to do well. He has probably put a bit of pressure on himself, which is natural for a firsttime England player.”