World Cup was a low point in my life, admits Wigglesworth

Scrum-half is delighted with fresh England start two seasons after his last cap, writes Ben Coles

Richard Wigglesworth’s most recent cap for England is not a fond memory. The Saracens scrum-half, called up on Monday after Ben Youngs was ruled out of the Natwest Six Nations with a knee injury, last featured for his country against Uruguay at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

Humbling defeats in the pool stages by Wales and Australia meant that England subsequently travelled to Manchester for their final game of the tournament with their tails between their legs.

“It was one of the worst weeks of my life,” Wigglesworth admits. “There is no point sugar-coating it – you put that much effort into something and you mess it up.

“That is the way that it is, that’s life. It is not easy or enjoyable all the time but, for the most part, there is nothing better than being involved in an England side.”

Many of those who played in that 60-3 win over the South Americans returned under Eddie Jones but Wigglesworth has had to wait, understandably questioning whether his England career was finished.

He has found solace in the drive for success at Saracens where, since 2015, the club have clinched an Aviva Premiership title and two Champions Cup crowns.

“So many things go through your mind at the time and that will definitely have been one of them,” he acknowledges. “But a long time ago I stopped worrying about what I couldn’t control and I had to get back to worrying about myself, and I use this line a lot; being able to look myself in the mirror and know that I had done everything I could to give myself a chance.

“I got on with that. I am lucky to be at a club where I enjoy my work day in, day out, and we as a club are lucky enough to be competitive at the top of the league and in Europe.

“I have had a lot to get my teeth into, to stay in that Saracens team and improve as a player. That was all part of me getting back here.”

The 34-year-old featured for England against the Barbarians in a non-test last year, but Saturday’s fixture at home against Wales marks a significant step up in ferocity. Since his return to camp, Wigglesworth has spent time getting up to speed with the team’s tactics, using the mobile app designed for the squad.

He is both a new face in the squad, yet also the most senior player at Pennyhill Park, and an appearance against Wales would make Wigglesworth the secondoldest England scrum-half in history behind Richard Harding.

Wigglesworth spent the majority of his Saracens career training and playing alongside Neil de Kock, who retired at the end of last season at 38, and the South African’s longevity has illustrated how long Wigglesworth can play on for with the right amount of dedication.

“Scrum-half is one of the positions where you constantly learn and improve,” he explains. “You are at the sharp end of the game, so if you stay still, then you are dead. I’m not interested in finishing anytime soon. It’s a question you get asked a bit, but the only way to answer it is to play and train well, to look like you are nowhere near done. I think that’s why Eddie had a look at me in the Barbarians week, to see what shape I was in and if I still had the desire to improve, which I do.

“That will be the key in the next few years, to actually improve. A lot of people may get to this age and try to hang on, but I’m not interested in that.

“I take inspiration from the likes of Neil de Kock, who was at Saracens until he was 38 and was the fittest man in the squad … Peter Stringer doing the same. Not hanging on, just trying to get better.”

Meanwhile, England lock Maro Itoje, Wigglesworth’s team-mate at Saracens, hailed the scrum-half ’s own fitness following his call-up.

“Ben [Youngs] will be missed, but Wiggy’s an outstanding individual,” Itoje said.

“He’s a proper professional, very diligent and one of the hardest working and fittest guys I know. Don’t ever run next to Richard because he’ll make you look terrible. He’s old enough to be my dad and he can outrun me!

“I really enjoy playing with him. He’s an experienced, calm head. When the time comes he’s on it. He’s noisy, he gives you a clear sense of direction. If you fall short of that he’s not afraid to let you know it.”