LONDON (AP) England's flanker crisis ahead of the autumn internationals has forced coach Eddie Jones to summon a player he described as ''distinctly average'' at the start of this year.
Tom Wood was called up by England on Wednesday for the first time since the 2015 Rugby World Cup after Jones lost five potential No. 7s - James Haskell, Jack Clifford, Sam Jones, Mike Williams and Maro Itoje - to injury.
The 29-year-old Wood looked unlikely to be adding to his 42 caps any time soon when he said in January that Jones told him he was ''distinctly average'' and lacked the work rate demanded of a world-class flanker.
Jones appears to have revised his opinion, joking that Wood's improved form for English club Northampton has coincided with letting his hair grow longer and getting a beard.
''He might be like Samson,'' said Jones, referring to the biblical figure who derived power from his long hair. ''I've been really impressed with his work rate. I've been in contact with him to do certain things and he's done that. He'll certainly be in contention.''
For games against South Africa, Fiji, Argentina and Australia on consecutive Saturdays starting Nov. 12, Jones could solve his crisis at No. 7 by switching Chris Robshaw from blindside to the openside - even though the Australian coach has previously said Robshaw is a No. 6.
''It's always an option. He's still got that 6+ jersey tucked away,'' Jones said. ''He's moved from No. 6 to No. 6+, so another half-point to No. 7 isn't really going to matter. At this stage, he's still seen as our best No. 6.''
Then there's Teimana Harrison, an out-and-out No. 7 who was replaced 31 minutes into the third test against Australia in June for failing to bring enough physicality to the back row.
There were six uncapped players in the 33-man squad announced by Jones, who has yet to lose a match since taking over as coach after the World Cup: Prop Kyle Sinckler, No. 8 Nathan Hughes, lock Charlie Ewels, winger Mike Haley, flyhalf Alex Lozowski and center Ben Te'o.
Jones is without 10 injured players in total, including wingers Anthony Watson and Jack Nowell. There was criticism of the intensity of England's training camp last month.
''No one likes to see players get injured but we're playing South Africa so we need to train with intensity to beat them. We haven't beaten them since 2006,'' Jones said. ''History shows that when you're preparing for a World Cup, you need depth down to four and five in all positions.
''Stephen Donald was out whitebaiting and then kicked the winning goal in a World Cup final for New Zealand (in 2011) wearing a jersey that was too small. That's the sort of depth you need.''
The England squad departs Sunday for a week of warm-weather training in Portugal.
