Barely seven days after playing his first game of rugby in nine months, Wasps captain Joe Launchbury has earned a recall to the England squad ahead of Sunday's Six Nations fixture against Italy.
Launchbury, 30, ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in a Premiership clash against Bath in April 2021 and only made his return in a surprise win over Saracens on January 30.
And after playing a full hour in Wasps' more recent victory over Exeter Chiefs, the 69-cap lock has been thrown in at the deep end as England prepare to face the Azzurri at Rome's Stadio Olimpico.
He'll replace Northampton Saints skipper Lewis Ludlam, who has been forced to withdraw from the squad after suffering a rib cartilage injury during Saturday's 20-17 defeat against Scotland.
England's Six Nations got off to a messy start at Murrayfield, where Luke Cowan-Dickie's late yellow card helped the hosts clinch back-to-back Calcutta Cup wins for the first time since 1984.
Nick Isiekwe made a surprise start at lock alongside Saracens team-mate Maro Itoje, with Exeter's Jonny Hill out due to a foot injury and Courtney Lawes still recovering from a concussion.
It remains uncertain as to whether Lawes will be available in time for the visit to Rome, encouraging head coach Eddie Jones to call upon the newly fit Launchbury for reinforcements.
The Wasps stalwart received the most recent of his 69 England caps in December 2020, playing 44 minutes in their extra-time win over France in the Autumn Nations Cup final.
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Jones has shown a lot of faith in Launchbury by recalling him after just 101 minutes of rugby in nine months, with his try-scoring display against Exeter on Saturday enough to convince the Australian.
“The only way you learn is to be tested again but I am sure we’ve got quick learners in the team," the England chief said after Saturday's defeat in Edinburgh.
“You only have to look at the development of Marcus Smith since the summer. He has come on leaps and bounds and he’s going to be an outstanding number ten for us.
“Look at the leaps and bounds Freddie Steward (21 years old) has made as a full-back.
“They’ve still got things to improve on but the way their learning curve is going is absolutely outstanding.”
England travel to face Wooden Spoon favourites Italy in the hopes of producing their first win of the tournament, with the Azzurri also licking their wounds following a 37-10 defeat to France.
It would be Launchbury's eighth appearance against Italy if he did feature at the Olimpico, while uncapped Leicester Tigers starlet Ollie Chessum and Bath's Charlie Ewels are also among the options at lock.
