HOORAY HENRY

Arundell handed first start for two years

- FROM ADAM HATHAWAY in Girona

HENRY ARUNDELL has been handed the chance to stake a World Cup claim and backed to show Twickenham he is a better version of himself than the one who wowed at France 2023.

The Bath flyer, rated one of the quickest players in the Prem, will make his first Test start for nearly two-and-a-half years in Saturday's Six Nations opener against Wales.

The 23-year-old was last in the XV at the 2023 World Cup in France when he started the 26-23 third place playoff win against Argentina.

Arundell then went into exile with Racing 92, in Paris, after the collapse of London Irish ruling him out of England contention before rejoining the Prem, with Bath, this season.

He made a try-scoring 13-minute cameo off the bench against Fiji in November but now gets the opportunity to start to nail down a spot at Australia 2027. And boss Steve Borthwick predicted the England faithful will see a more complete player from the one who sparkled at the last World Cup, scoring five tries in one pool game against Chile.