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'He's like a nice Pinotage, he has matured well': The making of 50-cap Anthony Watson

(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Anthony Watson has been hailed for his dedication to become a better player for England ahead of his 50th appearance for his country this Saturday. The 27-year-old has been selected on the right wing for the keenly anticipated Guinness Six Nations round four game at home to France.

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First capped in 2014 by Stuart Lancaster, Watson has been a regular pick for Eddie Jones but that maturation hasn’t been easy given how frequently injury he has been. Even after starring for the 2017 Lions, starting in all three Test games versus New Zealand, there were further setbacks to negotiate.     

However, Jones now feels that Watson has come of age and is revelling in being in the prime of his career with England. “I have never seen a player work so hard,” enthused Jones ahead of Saturday’s Twickenham showdown with the French.  

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“He had a difficult injury period, went to the World Cup, did exceedingly well for us at the World Cup and then went through another injury period, has come back and is close to his best. His 50th game will be his best game.

“He has matured very nicely. He’s like a nice Pinotage, he has matured well. Probably in the early stage of his career, he didn’t maximise his potential and now he is really working hard to be the best player he can be. 

“That is coming out in the way that he is presenting himself as a player because he has got the confidence that he knows he is well prepared that may be early in his career came a little too easy for him and he took things for granted. Now he is 100 per cent committed to being the best player he can be. 

Asked to further elaborate on Watson’s maturity, Jones added: “He was driving a Daihatsu for a while and now he is back in the Maserati, so that makes a bit of a difference. He goes a bit faster… and I think having a child has helped him again, having a number of serious injuries have helped him focus on his career and what is important to him, so there have been a number of factors involved.”

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J
JW 31 minutes ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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