- Watson relishing return to international duty
- Wing looking forward to teaming up with Nowell
England Under 20 wing Anthony Watson has said that he can’t wait to play alongside recently crowned LV= Breakthrough Player Jack Nowell after the pair built up a good understanding at England Under 18 level.
Watson comes back into the starting XV to face Wales in the Six Nations Championship decider after missing out on the last three games with an ankle knock, something he admits has been frustrating.
He said: “I’m really pleased to be back in the mix, I missed the Junior World Championship last summer with a foot injury and I thought that I would miss the Six Nations after getting a knock in the opening game against Scotland. So to be back in the side for this one is a credit to the medical guys and I can’t wait to get out there.”
On his link up with Nowell, Watson added: “It’s been two years since we last played with each other – it was against Ireland with the Under 18s back in 2011 – so I’m looking forward to playing alongside Nowellsy again and hopefully we get some good ball on Friday. He’s a quality player, and the boys are all really pleased that he’s won the LV= Breakthrough Player award.”
Wales are unbeaten in this season’s competition, while England have lost one [against Ireland], but England have the greater points difference and a win of any kind will secure Rob Hunter’s side a third Six Nations title in a row.
“The game is a sell-out, we know that it won’t be an easy place to go, but it’s a challenge we’re relishing. The Welsh boys are looking for a Grand Slam and that brings its own pressures so we’re just looking to go out there and play as well as we can,” Watson said.
The game will also be Head Coach Hunter’s last game in charge of the Under 20s and Watson is full of praise for the team ethos and culture in the camp.
He said: “The whole set-up is awesome, Rob and Nick Walshe [Assistant Coach] have both been great with me, and I’m sure that all of the other boys would say the same. The atmosphere in camp and the whole ethos is top quality.”
