In the group Heinz completes dream rise to World Cup
WILLI Heinz admits he is pinching himself as he prepares to play a key role for England at the World Cup.
As one of just two scrum-halves in the squad, the Gloucester star should get plenty of game time in Japan after making a late charge for selection.
New Zealand-born Heinz made his England debut at the age of 32 against Wales on Sunday and his rapid ascension was cemented less than 24 hours later when he was named in the 31-man squad for the showpiece tournament, which starts next month.
Heinz revealed he found out he made the cut when he was added to the squad’s World Cup Whatsapp group and sent on a bus to Bristol for the official announcement.
He said: “You got added to the group for the World Cup and that was a special moment, then we were on the bus for Bristol so that kinda confirmed we were there so that was a special moment and a special 24 hours.
“Then we had a team meeting where it was officially announced with a video I think that was put out on to social media.
“It was cool to sit there and watch that together - it was a nice touch seeing old coaches or people that have been involved with the guys’ upbringing and their rugby journeys so it was a nice moment for the squad.
“It was always going to be tough as there are a few nines there who aren’t in the squad, so I’m feeling for them as well.”
Heinz got his first taste of the England set-up two years ago when he was called into a training camp in Brighton.
He thought that was it in terms of his international chances, but head coach Eddie Jones got back in touch towards the end of last season after some impressive performances for a Gloucester side that reached the Premiership play-offs.
Heinz got the call while on a summer holiday in Croatia that he was going to be part of the extended squad.
“I had that little taste in the camp a
couple of years ago but apart from that, I hadn’t had too much correspondence,” said Heinz.
“I got the message from Eddie at the back end of the last Premiership season, just saying he was watching my progress and to know you were on the radar then was awesome and that lit a bit of a fire to know that to go out there and play well, then who knows what could happen.
“The last two months have been pretty surreal - it’s all happened pretty quickly.
“Sunday was an amazing day and to get included in the group for the World Cup was a pretty amazing moment.”
Jones has spoken highly of the big impression Heinz has made in the squad, saying he “improved his game immeasurably” since he first joined up with England two years ago.
And Heinz admitted the feedback he previously got from Jones stuck with him.
“I think the big thing they were wanting from me was just to do the basics really well,” said Heinz.
“I know that sounds really simple but talking to a few of the other guys in the squad at international level, it’s about
going out there and performing your job really well under a lot of pressure.
“Eddie said to me, ‘you don’t have to be this brilliant player, you just need to do the basics brilliantly.’
“It makes you think, ‘okay, let’s strip the game back, not over-complicate things, get out there and do your basic tasks really well so pass really well, kick really well, organise the forwards with lots of energy and communication, all those sorts of things.”
As the only specialist cover for England’s most capped scrum-half Ben Youngs in the World Cup squad, Heinz is aware he might have to take on a lot of responsibility in Japan.
He said: “I really have been pinching myself, it’s all happened so quickly but when you have got a guy like Ben Youngs, I’ve been rooming with him for the last two or three weeks and he’s won 86 caps, what a perfect person to speak to and learn from.
“He’s so good at sharing those experiences, what to expect, what to do and what not to do in preparation.”
One man who will not be there is Heinz’s regular half-back partner at Gloucester after Danny Cipriani was controversially left out of the squad.
But Heinz acknowledged the role Cipriani played last season in helping improve his game.
“I think the quality that Danny brought to Gloucester obviously helped all of us,” he said.
“There were a number of guys that had really good seasons at Gloucester and probably the detail and the confidence he brought to our attack led to us standing out a bit more.
“Danny really helped my game and put a lot of pressure on me to deliver good ball for the team.
“He’s a really good thinker of the game and understands what it takes to perform at the highest level.”
England still have three warm-up games left against Wales, Ireland and Italy before flying out to Japan and it is an experience Heinz his looking forward to having heard good things from his brother-in-law Tim Bateman, the Crusaders centre who has played for Coca-cola Red Sparks and Ricoh Black Rams.
“My wife loved it over there and my brother-in-law raves about the place as well,” said Heinz.
“It will be an awesome experience to go out there.”