JUMPING JACK FLASHBACK: IT’S ALL RIGHT NOW

ADAM HATHAWAY JACK WILLIS admitted to flashbacks when he revisited his own worst nightmare on Sunday at Twickenham.

The Wasps flanker came off the bench for England in the 52-21 tonking by the Barbarians, and it gave him a jolt.

Rewind 16 months and Willis was lying on the pitch in agony after snapping knee ligaments against Italy – also after coming off the bench.

That injury (below), when his blood curdling screams could be heard around an empty stadium, led to a year out of the game and thoughts he might be done as a player.

But Willis fought back and flew out with England on Tuesday for the threetest tour to Australia after settling his nerves by coming off unscathed against the Baa Baas.

“I was overcoming a few mental hurdles coming off the bench at Twickenham again,” he said. I’d probably dealt with those real battles a long time ago but there were a few reminders.

“I woke up thinking about the scenario unfolding, of me coming off the bench, and thought, ‘Oh, that’s how it unfolded last time’.”

Last time England headed Down Under, in 2016, Dylan Hartley’s side beat the Wallabies 3-0 to extend boss Eddie Jones’ dream start in the Twickenham hot seat.

And Jones got

Anthony Watson, a veteran of that trip but injured this time, to rev up the squad at a recent training get together.

“Eddie has touched on it a few times,” said

Willis. “In the mini-camp last week, he asked Anthony how he remembered feeling at the end of that tour with a 3-0 victory. He said it was one of the best memories he’s ever had as a rugby player.

“Those are the things we’re all striving for. Everyone wants to be part of this tour. We need to put our best foot forward to replicate what happened in 2016.” Sunday’s hammering by a scratch side was another nightmare but at least Willis had his family to watch him play for England for the first time. He has three caps but all of those, including the day against Italy, were behind closed doors during the pandemic.

Not everyone in a massive Willis contingent at HQ was happy – his eight-month-old son Enzo had the hump.

He added: “I had about 15 people in one area and another five I didn’t manage to get to. It was incredible to go and pick up my little son although he was a bit miserable. So on tour I’ll definitely avoid the miserable tantrums.

“It was lovely to have family there and that moment is something

I’ve dreamt of for a long, long time.”