Collier going hammer and Tong for Test bid
HARLEQUINS prop Will Collier believes the extra speed work he is doing in training can tip the balance his way as he battles for England selection this summer.
Collier, acknowledged as one of the Premiership’s leading tight-head technicians, acquitted himself well on last year’s tour of Argentina but was denied a chance to build on two fine displays against the Pumas after undergoing shoulder surgery in October.
Dan Cole, Harry Williams and club-mate Kyle Sinckler have dominated England’s No.3 jersey but with boss Eddie Jones set to make changes for the forthcoming tour of South Africa, Collier is confident he can still fight his way into World Cup contention. Collier, 27, told The
Rugby Paper: “It’s been massively frustrating this season, personally and for the club. I’ve had a few injuries in my time career the one in October was particularly annoying and it came when I was looking to push on with England.
“I absolutely loved my time working under Eddie and Neal Hatley in Argentina last summer and felt I gave a good account of myself, so I was desperate to get back into that environment again because you learn so much through that intensity at Test level.
“It wasn’t to be in November or the Six Nations but I’ve still got international aspirations and, with my shoulder feeling better than it did before I had the surgery, that’s still very much my priority, so it’s head down now, keep pushing hard for the club.”
Collier has made physical gains since Argentina, explaining: “Scrummaging is my biggest strength and England have always said they’re happy with that, but the next step up has been my work in the loose because you don’t actually realise until you’re in that England environment how much you need to be doing to reach those highest levels.
“There’s a lot of acceleration work, change of speed and, even as a kick-chaser, being that extra couple of metres ahead of your opposite man – they’re all the small differences at international level that can really add up into big changes in games.
“As a prop you think you’re making carries, gains, tackles and impacts, but just working on little things like coming up faster in defence is what Eddie and his coaches are looking for.
“That’s what I’m trying to put into my game at the moment and Gareth Tong, our conditioner at Harlequins, has been working really hard with me on that. I’m doing a lot of leg, power and speed work and hopefully that will make the difference.”
Collier does not view Sinckler’s involvement with England as an impediment to his own ambitions.
He added: “We’re pretty different players and the relationship we have works really well. We’re not flogged by the club and we can play 60 or 20 minutes depending on the balance the coaches want week to week, so that could also work with England.
“I enjoy the competition and we’re pushing each other pretty hard, not just as mates but driving each other on – why couldn’t we both be involved?
“It’s been a hard season for Quins with injuries, but the goal now is to use these last few games as a springboard to try and get on that summer tour.”