Chris Jones, who has played most of his rugby in the
second row, has won the stamp of approval of England coach Clive Woodward who has named him in the starting line-up for the Calcutta Cup.
Chris Jones, who has played most of his rugby in the
second row, has won the stamp of approval of England head coach Clive Woodward who has named him in the starting line-up for the injured Joe Worsley
as
blindside flanker to face Scotland on Saturday.
The 23-year-old came off the bench to score a debut try, the last
of
England’s seven, in the reigning Six Nations champions 50-9 rout of
Italy in
Rome last weekend.
The 6ft 6in (1.98m), 15st (100kg) forward is the only change to
the team
and represents the future of English rugby as Woodward sets about
rejuvenating
his side by discarding the 35-year-old Neil Back who won his 66th cap
in last
November’s World Cup final.
Woodward said Jones had everything a flanker required to make it
at Test
level.
“The guys up in Sale have done a great job with him and he is
kind of
unique, as he has got this incredible pace and yet he is 6ft
6in,” said the
England coach.
“He is a very special talent whom you can’t compare with any
other player.
Until you step up and are given your chance you never know
but he took his
ten minutes against Italy and now starts on merit,” added
Woodward.
The player himself was delighted with his elevation, “The last week
or so has been fantastic – a dream come true – and there’s been lots
of hard
work and things to learn,” he said.
To get to start is just amazing, I hadn’t looked too far further than being on the bench, but this is just marvellous.
“There are a lot of people and coaches at Sale who have
helped give me this
chance and I’ve got to take it. You’ve got to perform every time and
you can’t
just sit back.
But being involved with England is a fantastic way to
improve my game and
it’s very good when these people give you tips and pull you to one
side to
give you a pat on the back.”
Good news for Woodward is that injury doubts, captain Lawrence Dallaglio, inside centre Jason
Robinson and
scrum-half Andy Gomarsall have all reported fit.
Woodward has already been hit by the loss of fly-halves Jonny
Wilkinson and
Charlie Hodgson while Lewis Moody, Mike Tindall, Stuart Abbott and
Julian
White are also sidelined.
Steve Borthwick was ruled out of Saturday’s Calcutta Cup clash
after
receiving a two match ban in a recent match for his club Bath against
Wasps.
Borthwick appeared to knee Wasps’ number 8 and England captain
Dallaglio in
the head at a ruck.
Scotland lost their opening match 23-10 against Wales on Saturday,
their
first game under new Australian coach Matt Williams.
Statistics and current form point to a big England victory – they
have won
13 of their last 14 Tests against Scotland.
The odd one out was the 19-13 Calcutta Cup defeat at Murrayfield
in 2000
which denied them the Grand Slam.
England: Iain Balshaw (Bath), Josh Lewsey (London
Wasps), Will
Greenwood (Harlequins) Jason Robinson (Sale Sharks), Ben Cohen
(Northampton
Saints), Paul Grayson (Northampton Saints), Andy Gomarsall
(Gloucester),
Lawrence Dallaglio (London Wasps, capt, Richard Hill (Saracens),
Chris Jones
(Sale Sharks), Ben Kay (Leicester Tigers), Danny Grewcock (Bath),
Phil Vickery
(Gloucester), Steve Thompson (Northampton Saints), Trevor Woodman
(Gloucester)
Replacements: Mark Regan (Leeds Tykes), Jason Leonard
(Harlequins), Simon
Shaw (London Wasps), Alex Sanderson (Sale Sharks), Matt Dawson
(Northampton
Saints), Ollie Barkley (Bath), Henry Paul (Gloucester)
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