Jack trying even harder
BACK-ROW MAN SPURRED ON BY BROTHER TOM AS HE SCORES 10 IN ALL COMPETITIONS
SOME friendly brotherly competition provided the catalyst for Jack Willis’ sensational try-scoring form this season.
The talented back rower had registered three tries in his first 36 games for Wasps entering the 2019/20 season.
Having overcome a knee ligament rupture and ankle injury that saw him play just 168 minutes in 16 months, he started the current campaign with a bang scoring from the bench in September’s 36-32 win at Northampton Saints in the Premiership Cup.
Four tries in his past five games has taken him to 10 in all competitions averaging a try every other game in a prolific campaign so far. While plenty of focus is placed on his sensational breakdown work – he tops the Premiership turnover stats with 33 – Willis senior confirmed adding points to his game was a big focus upon his return from injury, and with it, some bragging rights with younger brother and Wasps teammate, Tom.
“I think if you added all my tries up it comes to about 10 metres in total,” he joked.
“They’ve all been quite short range, but it’s always been highlighted that it was something that Tom was very good at, so we probably got a little bit competitive, I thought let me have a bit of that as well!
“It’s been a big focus for me. It’s something Evs [Matt Everard, Wasps coach] and the forwards coaches put a massive emphasis on, the importance of the latches and the support you get from the players. It’s all very well and good, taking the pick and going on your own, but without that latch coming in with you, you’ve got no chance. Some of the quality latches we’ve got in the team, it’s massive unseen work. They’re due some credit really.”
Having suffered his knee injury days after receiving his England callup in the summer of 2018, his form for Wasps has attracted the attention of
Eddie Jones once more. The head coach has watched both of Willis’ performances so far with many people tipping him for an international recall.
“I think he has been heading to as many games as he possibly can!” said Willis. “For me, I couldn’t possibly know whether he is going to be there or not. The focus for me is trying to play as well as I can on a personal level, but also doing the best I can for the team and for the group. There’s a soul focus of the opposition for the match.”
He added: “I am trying to do the best that I can for the team. If anything comes from England, that would be fantastic. It’s obviously something I’ve dreamed of since I was a young lad. It was something I came quite close to in 2018, but the here and now is Bath at the weekend, and that’s the focus for me.”