Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
HARRY’S TOP OF THE CLASS NOW
EXETER prop Harry Williams never dreamed of being an international rugby player – now he is living the dream with England.
Williams was at Whitgift School in Croydon and played in the same all-conquering team as British & Irish Lion Elliot Daly and England’s Marland Yarde.
At that time, the front-rower was overshadowed by those stars and feared his chances of a pro career were down the pan, so he left for New Zealand to play club rugby before joining Nottingham and Championship outfit Jersey.
Canny Exeter boss Rob Baxter signed Williams in 2015 and he is now a Premiership champ – and in the same England squad as Yarde in Argentina.
“I never thought about becoming an international,” said Williams. “All I ever wanted to be was a Premiership player.
“Marland plays wing and, at school, he played centre. He was a lot better than me.
“At school, I wasn’t a particularly good player, I just tried hard.
“He got straight into professional rugby, but he was very good. I had a lot more developing to do and it only after university did I get the offer from Jersey.” Williams, 25, was part of Exeter’s raucous title celebrations a fortnight ago, but his old party animal lifestyle nearly put paid to his pro career.
He added: “I was at university while I was at Nottingham and never fully gave myself to rugby because I always had my lectures.
“Also I was enjoying life. I was going out a lot.”
4 Flaky in first start, groggy in this one after running into Conor Murray’s elbow
6 Not the tour de force of four years ago, though there’s still time for that
5 Spilled two try-scoring passes in first half before head knock on half hour
8 Think Jamie Roberts in 2009 and you’ll get the idea. Strong and stable
7 A lot more controlled than his yellow card cameo in Auckland
Everything the Lions hoped he would be. A true rugby titan
9 Mr Perpetual motion, set perfect tempo and Lions danced to his tune
8 The envy of the front row union, blending physicality with dexterity and guile
7 Line-out still has to be worked on, but another who contributed fully
8 A tank in the close-quarter exchanges, continuing a wonderful season
Captain for the night proved to be hard and uncompromising
10
7
7 A composed presence in the engine room and fiercely physical
7 Stole an early line-out and brought a steely attitude throughout his game
7 A ready replacement for Sam Warburton if his ankle injury won’t mend in time
7 Not as dominant as he was in Whangarei a week ago, but quietly effective BENCH: Watson the pick of the cavalry after replacing Hogg – sharp and alert
7 LEWIS HAMILTON was left “shaking and speechless” after being presented with Ayrton Senna’s helmet after securing pole position for today’s Canadian Grand Prix.
Hamilton’s time of 1min 11.459sec gave him his 65th pole – the same as Senna.
And, afterwards, Senna’s family presented Hamilton with a helmet once worn by the F1 legend, who died in a crash while leading the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.
“I am shaking,” said Hamilton (above).
“I am speechless. Ayrton was my favourite driver.
“He inspired me to be where I am today.
“To receive this is a great honour. Thank you to the Senna family.” PETER KENNAUGH produced a sensational ride as he led a British one-two on the Alpe d’Huez yesterday.
The Team Sky star (right) dropped Ben Swift on the iconic climb, as Chris Froome lost ground in the general classification in the Criterium du Dauphine.
Race leader Richie Porte attacked late on, gaining 24 seconds on secondplaced Froome.
Porte leads Froome by 62 seconds now.
“To win at L’Alpe d’Huez beats being an Olympic champion,”