EXETER ACE BACK IN THE FOLD FOR ENGLAND
EXETER Chiefs hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie and Bath back Anthony Watson have been recalled to the England squad ahead of Saturday’s Autumn Nations Cup clash against Wales.
Neither player has so far featured in the tournament, but Watson has overcome an ankle problem and Cowan-Dickie returned to action following minor knee surgery when Exeter hammered Harlequins 33-3 on Friday evening.
Northampton full-back George Furbank and Wasps fly-half Jacob Umaga, meanwhile, are both injured and not included in a 35-man group squad announced by the Rugby Football Union.
England are chasing a seventh successive victory, and need only a point against Wales to win Pool A and secure a Nations Cup final place - probably against France - on Saturday week.
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, yet Wales have only beaten England twice from the last eight attempts.
Meanwhile, Eddie Jones is backing Jonny May to replace Rory Underwood as England’s most lethal finisher after declaring the best is yet to come from the Gloucester wing.
May struck twice in Saturday’s 18-7 Autumn Nations Cup victory over Ireland with a glorious second that swept him almost the length of the field in one of the greatest tries witnessed at Twickenham.
It propelled the 30-year-old to joint second alongside Ben Cohen and Will Greenwood in England’s all-time list on 31 with only Underwood’s milestone of 49 left to chase down.
May has a similar strike rate to his predecessor in the number 11 jersey of around a try in every two games and Jones applauds a special talent.
“He’s an incredible rugby player,” Jones said. “What I’ve seen in that boy in the time I’ve been lucky enough to coach him has been outstanding.
“I’ve never seen a more professional player. He continues to get better, he gets faster, stronger, more elusive and his work off the ball is exceptional. He’s always looking for ways to get quicker.”