Mike Ford: Anthony Watson in line to get England call for Six Nations

One has worked with him for four years, the other for four months – but both Neal Hatley and Mike Ford have no doubts Anthony Watson’s England call-up last week is the first of many.
Indeed, Bath head coach Ford has tipped the uncapped 19-year-old to make a break into Stuart Lancaster‘s Six Nations squad if he fulfils his early season promise while being put through his paces at Pennyhill Park.
The flying full-back was drafted in for a closer look by Lancaster ahead of Saturday’s clash against Argentina at Twickenham and Ford revealed the early feedback had been all positive.
After six years as England defence coach, Ford can identify when to blood a youngster into the international set-up.
Watson’s raw speed and power have seen him fit in seamlessly at the Rec following a summer move from London Irish. And while Ford stopped short of comparing Watson with Jason Robinson, as Sir Clive Woodward did last week, he concedes his talents cannot go unrewarded.
Ford told The Rugby Paper: “There’s no one quite like Jason in my eyes, but Anthony is quick, has exceptional evasion skills and is a tough lad as well. He’s a top player.
“All the attributes are there and he’s more than willing to put his head in where it hurts.
“He still needs to improve positionally and in a few other areas, he’s still a young, raw kid, he just needs to keep doing what he’s doing.
“Stuart obviously thinks very highly of him but he’s still a young pup and he’ll benefit hugely from being in and around the squad.
“Mentally, to get him in now makes sense, it will give him a good grounding.
“I was involved in the England set-up for about six years and it’s interesting for a young player, not knowing how things work, to get that under their belt.
“The younger you can do it the better, it means the next time will be easier. He was nervous, very nervous, before going off this time but we tried to ease those fears.
“Ultimately it will be in the Tests where (his character) is judged. When that happens his attitude in and around the place will be important.
“He’s not going to be playing for England yet – this is about looking into the future for Stuart and quite rightly.
“Whether it’s for the Six Nations or for the summer I’m not too sure, but it’s a huge positive for him.
“I’d think the Six Nations is more realistic for Anthony, but all he needs to do is keep doing what he has been doing at Bath.”
Watson, David Sisi and Jonathan Joseph all swapped the Exiles for life in Somerset over the summer and that owed much to Hatley – the former youth academy coach at the Madejski Stadium.
Hatley, who joined Bath as a forwards coach last season, has seen Watson’s stock rise since he pitched up as a spindly 14-year-old with his brother Marcus in Berkshire.
Hatley said: “I couldn’t be more pleased for Anthony, not a lot of people recognise really how hard he works.
“It is an unbelievable confidence booster for him. When he turned up at Bath he was a bit low on confidence but it’s improved massively and being involved in this is only going to help.
“It’s nice those guys have a real trust in you and want to follow you. They put a lot of faith in what you’re doing.
“His brother was probably one of the best players we had in the group and Anthony, as a 14-year-old came in and skinned him. The athlete that he is now compared to then is massively different.
“He has just got to keep working. He can beat a defender in a phone box but he’ll be working on his kicking game and positional play.”
JAMIE HOLT