England coach Jones hails return – and power – of the ‘magic sponge’

HEAD COACH Eddie Jones has hailed the “miracle” recovery of Jack Nowell and two senior England players in time to face Italy on Sunday.

Nowell had been ruled out for three to four weeks by an ankle injury, but is now in contention for the Nat West Six Nations opener at the Stadio Olimpico, a beneficiary of what Jones describes as a “magic sponge”.

Additional good news was provided by Chris Robshaw and Mike Brown, who will line up at flanker and full-back after overcoming the respective back problem and blurred vision that had seen them rated as “borderline” by their head coach.

Completing a positive medical bulletin was Maro Itoje’s rehabilitation from a hip complaint and the only unavailable player from the 34man squad in place at England’s Surrey training base is Zach Mercer, who has been struck down by a viral infection.

“We’ve had some miracles,” said Jones, who names his team to face Italy on Friday.

“Remember in the old days they used to have magic sponges? You’d be down and out and the guy would come out with a yellow sponge, put it on you and you’d recover. Well they’re back. The magic sponges are back. Jack’s gone from being out for three weeks to he’s playing.

“Advice changes and people react differently to injuries. When I told you he wasn’t in a position to play, he wasn’t. That was the medical advice.

“All of them (Robshaw, Itoje, Brown) have returned. We did some stuff yesterday (Monday) and they all came through really well.”

Robshaw and Itoje look set to pack down either side of Sam Simmonds in the back row with the Exeter Chief appearing to have held off the challenge of Mercer at No 8, a position that has seen England robbed of Billy Vunipola and Nathan Hughes by injury. Nowell is likely to be given a berth on the bench and is still being examined as an option at outside centre after being compared by Jones to New Zealand great Conrad Smith.

“Jack’s a good strong player, he carries well through traffic. He’s got good footwork, he’s got a high work-rate and he’s an energetic player,” Jones said.

“He reminds me a bit of Conrad Smith. The idea of him at 13 came into my head two years ago when Exeter played Clermont. He played quite well.”

England are targeting an unprecedented third successive outright Championship crown.