The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Willis vows to come back ‘better and stronger’ after knee injury
England flanker Jack Willis has vowed “I will be back” as he begins the long road to recovery from the horrific knee injury suffered against Italy.
Wasps have confirmed that Willis is facing a “long time out” after a scan revealed extensive damage to his left leg after he was pulled out of a ruck in Saturday’s 41-18 Guinness Six Nations victory at Twickenham.
A precise timeframe for his rehabilitation has yet to be provided, but Willis has declared on social media that he intends to return from another major spell on the sidelines a better player.
“The highs and lows of Rugby... I have loved every second of training and playing in an England shirt and it has been a dream come true to be involved in such a great group of lads and coaches.
“I’m truly gutted with the way it ended on
Saturday but these things happen...” he said.
“I will give everything I can to my rehab to come back a better and stronger player. Thank you so much for all the messages and support I’ve received it really is appreciated. I will be back.”
● Iain Henderson insists Ireland are heading in the right direction under head coach Andy Farrell, despite their Six Nations title hopes being wiped out after just two games.
A first home defeat to France in a decade condemned the Irish to successive losses at the start of a campaign for the first time.
Lock Henderson, who captained his country in Sunday’s 15-13 reversal against Les Bleus after coming off the bench in the opening weekend loss to Wales, says the camp remains united behind the Farrell project.
“We’re definitely seeing progress. Everyone is striving for it, everyone is working real hard.
“There is a huge amount of frustration,” said the 28-year-old, who required stitches during the game following a nasty clash of heads with Cian Healy.
“We’re definitely seeing guys putting in the time, everyone is trying their best to produce this progress on the pitch but it’s that last couple of inches, that last wee bit that we need to see, just to push it over the line.”