Jones-Buchanan ready to reinforce England

Jamie Jones-Buchanan is standing by to give England a fresh injection of enthusiasm in their World Cup game with New Zealand at Newcastle on Saturday. The Leeds forward is one of Tony Smith's likely changes as the side tries to get over the trauma of the record-breaking defeat by Australia.

With Maurie Fa'asvalu and Jon Wilkin both likely to be ruled out, England need reinforcements in the pack and Jones-Buchanan's wholehearted approach could be exactly what is needed to lift morale.

"I'm an enthusiastic guy – sometimes too enthusiastic people tell me – and I've kept myself in good condition over here," he said.

Despite not playing in Melbourne, Jones-Buchanan has felt the intensity of the disappointment within the squad. "It's hard when some of the commentators and press are saying pretty demeaning things. It affects us all, not just the guys who played."

With Fa'asavalu awaiting the results of a scan on a suspected broken hand and Wilkin possibly having broken his jaw, England might need Jones-Buchanan in the front-row as well as the second.