Tom Wood feels Eddie Jones' criticism was overdramatised

England flanker Tom Wood feels Eddie Jones' critical post-World Cup comments of him were blown out of proportion.

The Northampton back-row forward has been named in Jones' starting line-up for Saturday's opening autumn international against South Africa at Twickenham, live on Sky Sports.

Live International Rugby Union

It is the first time Wood has been selected since Jones took over the national job and comes nine months after he was labelled "distinctly average" by the head coach.

Any damage done by the comments seems to have been repaired, with Jones happy to compare Wood to 'Rambo' due to his long hair and beard and restore him to his team for what is a key fixture.

"I think an awful lot was made of that and I just gave an easy headline," Wood told Sky Sports News HQ. "Eddie just said that I hadn't been good enough and that I needed to improve if I wanted to get back in.

"I knew myself that I needed to do that as well and I got my head down and worked hard. We were in contact throughout.

"Eddie told me the door was never closed on me and that I was getting closer as I was improving and working hard and so I just kept doing what I was doing."

Wood's international exile has lasted more than a year and he accepts his chance to restore his reputation with England has come through injuries elsewhere.

Jones will be missing James Haskell, Jack Clifford, Sam Jones, Mike Williams and Maro Itoje and Wood is happy to be the beneficiary.

"I've just been quietly working away so that I was ready," he said. "The back row is an attritional area of the pitch and there is always a chance there will be injuries.

"So I knew if I kept working hard and making improvements that I'd get a chance but I know this is a real opportunity for me to make my mark."