Wednesday 7 February 2018 00:08, UK
Richard Wigglesworth admits he was waiting anxiously for a call from England head coach Eddie Jones after watching Ben Youngs seriously injure his knee against Italy.
Wigglesworth, 34, has been called into the England squad for Saturday's match with Wales after Youngs was ruled out for the rest of the season after rupturing the medial collateral ligament in his left knee.
The last of the Saracen's 27 international caps came against Uruguay in the 2015 World Cup but Wigglesworth revealed Jones had told him he was in his contingency plans before the Six Nations got underway.
"Watching the (Italy) game, it's sickening when you see a knee go. Having done one myself, I know what it entails," Wigglesworth said on Tuesday.
"I spoke to Eddie before the tournament. He said he had a few plans in place, and I was one of the plans.
"I knew I was in the mix but until you get the call, I was pacing around like a lunatic."
Wigglesworth joked that his initial excitement at returning to the squad had been tapered by having to sort out family plans.
"Great to get the call up, but now I've got two kids and a dog," he said.
"I was excited at first but then there are the logistics of who's going to look after who."
Wigglesworth has been a consistent performer in the Aviva Premiership and has helped Saracens win three league titles and back-to-back European Champions Cup crowns.
He admits he doubted whether he would get another opportunity in the England squad but now hopes to take his chance.
"You have to get on with what you can do, and what you can control, and I've done that the last two years," Wigglesworth said.
"And I told myself 'if I ever get an opportunity, try and take it'. He's (Jones) told me what he wants me to do this week. It's always good to know what he wants from you.
"So I'll be hoping to impress in training."
