Harry thanks Leinster toughs for giving him a good kicking!
ENGLAND tight-head Harry Williams claims having his backside kicked during Exeter’s recent defeats by Leinster could prove the ideal Six Nations preparation.
Williams will vie with Lions stars Dan Cole and Kyle Sinckler for the Red Rose No.3 jersey as he looks to make a tournament debut. However, he says any illusions over how big a step up it will be were removed in back-to-back defeats by the Irish province. Williams, 26, told The
Rugby Paper: “It’s only the start of the process but I’m really happy to be in the wider squad.
“You can play week-in, week-out in the Premiership and nobody really notices, but international matches are huge one-offs that get everyone talking and it would be great to have the opportunity of playing in great cities like Rome, Cardiff and Paris.
“I’d love to go back to Twickenham, too, so hopefully I get picked for a few games. But there’s more than one tight-head to choose from and I’ve just got to work hard at our training camp in Portugal and then take that into Test week.”
Williams has yet to taste defeat in an England shirt, having been capped five times during last summer’s tour of Argentina and the subsequent Autumn series. Exeter are flying, too, although those back-toback losses to Leinster, where he was up against former Lion Cian Healy,
below, dragged him back to earth.
Williams explained: “Exeter are doing very well and as a team we’re going places, but the two games against Leinster in December were a good lesson for us.
“When you’re learning and developing as a team and as an individual and have a lot of decent performances, it’s sometimes good to have your arse kicked a bit.
“As long as you take everything in the correct way and use it as a positive learning experience, you come out on the other side of it a better individual and player. As a team you deliver a better product and, actually, it’s been a cool experience.”
As Williams anticipates the Six Nations challenge,
TRP can reveal he will extend his Exeter contract until 2020 after accepting a new two-year deal. Fellow Chiefs front-rowers Jack Yeandle, Greg Holmes and Elvis Taione have also agreed new terms.
Williams said: “I’m happy it’s signed and sealed, there’s a real good group of tight-knit, driven people. I want to really enjoy the next two years, keep taking the advice on board and trying to develop my game.”