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England's Jack Willis posts six-minute video diary detailing shocking array of damage to his knee and reveals when he might be back fit

(Photo by David Rogers/The RFU Collection via Getty Images)

Stricken back row Jack Willis has shed light on the devastating array of injuries suffered by his knee when he came off the replacements bench to play for England in last month’s Guinness Six Nations round two win over Italy. Willis lasted just six minutes in his third England appearance, enough time for the 24-year-old to score a try before getting crocodile rolled at a breakdown by Italy’s Sebastian Negri.

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Although it was known his knee had suffered multiple injuries, Willis has now detailed the precise nature of the extensive damage that had been done and fears he could be sidelined from the game for up to a year.

Having previously been through this time-consuming process of recovering from a serious knee injury, the Wasps forward has now decided to document his latest recovery and he posted a six-minute video to his Instagram account where he described what he was feeling at various stages in the lead-up to his recent surgery in London.

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Wales back row Dan Lydiate guests with Jamie Roberts and Dylan Hartley on the latest RugbyPass Offload

The revealing footage opened with Willis explaining his motivation for being so open in telling England and Wasps rugby fans all about his latest brutal injury. “I felt it was worth explaining my main motivation behind this, why I want to document what I’m going through during rehab and everything really.

“I have spent a lot of time over the last couple of days thinking about what is ahead and remembering what I was through the last time, the 18 months or whatever it was I spent out. There are times you need motivation, you need to find something from somewhere.

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A post shared by Jack Willis (@jackswillis)

“I probably want to use this as a tool to keep me motivated throughout the whole of it and keep me focused. It’s tough thinking about what I am going to be missing and how hard I have worked to get back to that point but it’s going to be worth it to get back to that.”

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The video then shows Willis waking up and assembling a crutch following a difficult night’s sleep and next there is some footage of him meeting with Andy Williams, the surgeon renowned for operating on so many high profile sports people’s damaged knees.

Williams is pictured telling England rookie Willis: “I’d be disappointed about anything other than full recovery.” The clip then shows Willis’ reaction when back at home after he had absorbed everything that has been said to him about his scans. “I went and saw Andy Williams down at Fortius. Weird feeling really. Got a better feeling for where we are at. Basically figured out after the scan as well what I had done and just spoke in more detail about what that means.

“So I have torn my MCL (medial collateral ligament) off the bone at the bottom, torn a bit off the top as well, so I am going to need that fully repaired. Torn both menisci, the medial meniscus from the root one side. Pretty gutted. I could be out for up to a year. Not really sure how I feel about it at the moment.”

What Willis has documented then concludes with him heading to London for his operation and he even posts from his hospital bed just prior to getting taken down to the surgical ward.

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“Exciting day today. It feels like a step in the right direction. It has been a long few days waiting for the surgery with the fact that I’m not yet sure on timeframes yet. It could be six months, nine months, twelve months depending on what needs to be done to the PCL (posterior cruciate ligament). Yeah, pretty nervous to be honest with you.

“It’s the morning of the operation. There has been a lot on my mind. I just want to get this done, that’s the main thing. At least I know I am starting the process once I have got this done. I was thinking last night how much post-op this is going to hurt but fingers crossed.

“They are coming to grab me now for theatre. Really looking forward to getting it done now and cracking on with the rehab and coming through to the other side. I spoke to Andy just now and he is going to go in there and find out what the best plan is and whatever will be will be. Six months, twelve months, nine months, we’ll take it on. Looking forward to it. See you on the other side.”

 

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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