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Thursday 7 June 2018 14:44, UK
Eddie Jones says Nick Isiekwe is a different player compared to the one he gambled on during last year's tour of Argentina.
The Saracens forward will make his full England debut against the Springboks at Ellis Park on Saturday, live on Sky Sports Action, having played a total of 20 minutes in his substitute appearances against Argentina and Fiji.
Isiekwe partners Maro Itoje in the second row after Joe Launchbury suffered a calf injury but Jones has no concerns in promoting the 20-year-old to his starting line-up.
"I've been enormously impressed by the kid," said the Australian.
"We took a bit of a gamble on him last year and took him to Argentina as a bit of a project player.
"He came back from that tour, cemented a starting spot with Saracens, playing at lock and six.
"As the season went on he kept getting more and more impressive at doing the simple things well, and he's come into the squad on the back of Saracens' Premiership [win] a different lad.
"He's confident about what he's good at, he's an incredible athlete for a big guy, and he adds speed to the pack."
Isiekwe is one of six Saracens in the England pack along with Harlequins pair Kyle Sinckler and Chris Robshaw, who captained his country in their series defeat in South Africa in 2012.
Jones has also fast-tracked Brad Shields into his squad, naming the Hurricanes captain on the bench. The 27-year-old missed training on Monday due to jet lag but Jones has been impressed with his integration into the squad.
"He has fitted in well off the field," said Jones. "It's easy to fit into a squad when people know your attitude's right and he has brought that to the table.
"He has worked very hard to learn what he has needed to and that allows us to play with Nathan [Hughes], a back row who gives us variety, and also cover the lock position."
In the backline, Jones believes skipper Owen Farrell and Henry Slade can begin to forge a strong centre combination after the Exeter Chief missed the Six Nations because of a shoulder injury.
Meanwhile, Elliot Daly has been selected at full-back, the position he also filled in last month's loss to the Barbarians at Twickenham, and once more Mike Brown is consigned to the left wing.
"We feel it's going to aid us going forward," said Jones. "Daly has got extreme speed and a good kicking game, and Browny at 11 will free him up a bit more to do the things he's good at around the ruck.
"He doesn't carry that ultimate responsibility of looking after that back field. We feel that's worth a try for us."
