Saracens No.8 Tom Willis will be taking inspiration from clubmate Ben Earl when he heads into England training camp.
Willis is back in the frame after missing out on the summer tour and is desperate to add the solitary cap he won in a World Cup warm-up game against Wales last year.
The 25-year-old has been on fire this season, helping Saracens to two opening wins, and is desperate to translate that form to the international stage.
He has been helped by having a full pre-season as he shrugged off knee and back injuries which hampered his first full season in North London.
Taking inspiration from Earl
And he knows reaching an international berth is not Mission Impossible after seeing the leap Earl made from part-time Test player to a regular England starter and senior player in the World Cup and ever since.
Willis said: “Ben has been brilliant for England for the last two years. As a back five we are working hard, Andy Christie, Juan, Hugh Tizard, we all do our extras together.
“It shows what happens if you take your opportunity. He got given that opportunity before the World Cup and he took it with both hands. He has been one of England’s best players and he is definitely an example for the rest of us. I had a taste of it last year and would love to be involved.
“Last season I struggled with a few bits and bobs, I had a bit of a bad back, a bad knee and struggled to get a run of fitness – I was not happy with my level of conditioning.
“This time, I have got a full pre-season in and felt really good going into this year. We have started the season with confidence and I am feeling really good.
“If you get a run of games, match fitness is the best thing but if you don’t have that underlying conditioning it can be tough, and you are playing catch-up a little bit. If you are fit for a long time and get a run of games, that is where you want to be at.”
Taking his chance
Willis has made the most of his chance with Billy Vunipola moving to Montpellier in the summer and stamped his authority on the team from day one of Saracens’ gruelling summer training.
“Tom hit the ground running at the start of the season,” said director of rugby, Mark McCall.
“When he first came to the club, he was carrying an injury and his pre-season this time was completely different to last season.
“He came back fit, he has had a very strong 10 weeks. Our players who have been here from day one probably went through the hardest pre-season we have ever had, deliberately so, and Tom was one of the guys who was right at the front of that.
“He is probably in the best shape he has been in and we are seeing that in his performances.
“Although he has always been super physical from a carrying and defensive point of view, some of his work off the ball and his effort has been outstanding. He is playing really well – the fact he is on top of his body has been a real help for him.”
Alex Goode
Willis started against Exeter on Sunday but veteran full-back Alex Goode had to make do with a spot on the bench for the third time this season.
The 36-year-old might not be happy with being in the replacements but showed his class by making a show-stopping try for Elliot Daly last week against Sale when he did get on the pitch.
McCall added: “If you ask him, his role would be to play – he is one of the most competitive people we have had at the club, which is why he is still playing at the age he is.
“He still loves and wants to get on the field but he also understands he has got a role to play in the background. So he is very good with our younger players and he does play that legacy and mentoring role. He is fired up to play as well.”
