Reality bites as Nowell wings way to big stage

England winger can’t believe he’s playing against boyhood hero Brian O’Driscoll.

As a child Jack Nowell would demand to play as Ireland on his PlayStation because Brian O’Driscoll was the best player on the game. Today he will come up against the real thing when he runs out for his first international at Twickenham and it is fair to say he can’t quite believe it.

The 20-year-old wing has played just 11 senior games for Exeter Chiefs and his promotion to the England team at the start of the Six Nations was seen as a huge gamble by Stuart Lancaster.