Anthony Watson out to seize chance of playing a World Cup in England

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/jan/05/anthony-watson-england-world-cup-bath

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“This time last year I was still only 19, I was at a new club, trying to settle in and find form and that was as far ahead as I looked,” Anthony Watson says as he explains how his life has changed. Now, at the outset of a World Cup year in England, with Watson on the right wing for the hosts while playing full-back for Bath, whose attacking game has seen them rise to second in the Premiership, his immediate target is to shunt aside any temptation to anticipate a glorious 2015.

“Of course you think about it,” Watson admits. “Playing a World Cup in your own country is not an opportunity you get twice in your life. So I would be lying if I said I wasn’t thinking about it but to get that opportunity I have to perform for Bath. That has to be my focus and what better place to play rugby? I love our style of rugby and coming into training doesn’t feel like a job. I’m just having fun with my mates and getting better at rugby.”

It often seems as if timing is everything, in life as well as sport. The World Cup final is at Twickenham on 31 October and a key question for England is whether the tournament might arrive just a year or two too early. Stuart Lancaster’s plans to have his team hardened by experience, as England were when winning the 2003 World Cup, have been ripped up. Their backline remain an uncertain mix of new players, unsettled combinations and some promise. Bath have been central to the recent changes, with George Ford replacing Owen Farrell at No10, while Kyle Eastmond has appeared at No12 and Semesa Rokoduguni and Watson both made their Test debuts on the wing.

Ford and Watson offer England belief that late changes in personnel often play a part in successful tournaments. There is also more than luck involved in Watson’s emergence. He has been on the fringes of the squad for over a year and, apart from his pace, footwork and electric counterattacking, Watson is impressive in transforming himself from a shy teenager.

The fact Watson often bursts out laughing during this interview – whether describing past disastrous haircuts or the hysterical trials of supporting Arsenal – is a sign of his new assurance. A whisper that he had been spoken to by England’s coaches, who encouraged him to understand an international exudes a certain presence rather than shrinks inwardly, is confirmed.

“That’s right,” Watson says. “Obviously, a year ago, I was nervous coming into the England set-up. I didn’t know many of the guys. There were none of the boys from London Irish [his former club] and it was quite tough stepping into that environment. But the way Stuart has integrated me has been perfect. I was training with the squad in autumn 2013 but nowhere near playing. I wasn’t chucked in at the deep end. I was gradually eased into it. I made the summer tour and got a bit of game time against the Crusaders in New Zealand. So it’s been step by step.”

Watson, who will be 21 at the end of February, makes it sound as if Lancaster has led him along an intricately-plotted pathway but it was not part of the plan for England’s No14 to make his debut in November, less than a year before the World Cup – or to face New Zealand and South Africa in his first two Tests. “And marking Bryan Habana as well,” Watson exclaims. “Against New Zealand [as a substitute] I was up against Julian Savea but it was only 15 minutes and I didn’t have much to do. But facing Habana was a big challenge and a great experience.”

Watson makes a striking admission which indicates how he has conquered some of his past insecurities. “A year ago I would have been a mess but I didn’t feel massively nervous before either game. I’ve been doing a lot on the mental side and that made me calm but ready to go. I’ve come on massively in terms of confidence over the last year.”

Does he use a sports psychologist at Bath? “Yeah, yeah,” Watson says enthusiastically. “It’s really beneficial. But the way we do it means it’s just a chat about your mindset going into a game. I try to see him every few weeks and it’s helped so much this last year. I always wanted to play for England so badly. It started when my dad used to reward me with sweets after I played well. It took off from there and I’ve always had the idea that I’d love to play at Twickenham, singing the national anthem in front of 80,000, what a dream that would be. I never took my mind off it and I’m grateful I’ve managed to do it.”

Talent has been allied to ambition – and Neal Hatley, his first coach at London Irish who works with Mike Ford and Toby Booth at Bath, said no one could touch Watson when he turned up for his first session of junior rugby at 14. Watson, even then, had the look of a sensationally gifted young player.

“I don’t remember it much,” Watson says, before laughing. “I just know I was very skinny and had an absolutely terrible haircut. I don’t know if you’ve seen it but Hats tweeted a photo of it to mock me. It was an afro and swept to one side. As soon as I got into the professional environment, Delon Armitage and Shontayne Hape were on to me straightaway about it. It went pretty quick after that.”

English rugby has changed considerably over the last few decades and it is now a much more inclusive sport. “I understand how rugby was once viewed,” Watson says, “and it’s great the sport now has mixed-race and black guys to inspire younger kids. Fifteen years ago they would have thought that sport is not for me. But even in the school I was at [in Weybridge] there were lots of mixed-race guys. I then slotted in straightaway at Irish. Marlon Yarde was at that first session and JJ [Jonathan Joseph, the Bath centre], my older brother Marcus [an England sevens player] and a few boys came from that setup.”

Booth, his former head coach who gave him his Premiership start for Irish at 17, and his mentor Hatley, enticed him to Bath. “Having worked with Toby and Neal before was a big factor – especially Neal as he’s been instrumental to everything I’ve done. And now, at Bath, we’ve got an incredible coaching set-up under Fordy which has helped me develop.”

Watson is also able to follow the transition of Sam Burgess in closeup. Burgess, England’s best rugby league player and his new team-mate, adds to the conundrum Lancaster faces with only the Six Nations and a few pre-tournament friendlies left before the World Cup. Burgess has made a couple of starts for Bath, alongside a smattering of games from the bench, and his few months at the club mark his only experience of rugby union. He also started at outside-centre against Leicester on Sunday – a game Bath lost 17-8 to remain just behind Northampton in the Premiership.

In mid-December, Watson watched Burgess play impressively at flanker in an A league match. He sounds optimistic when asked if Burgess might make the World Cup squad. “I think he can. He’s got world-class attributes. He obviously needs a bit more time but if he puts five or six good games together he’s right in the frame. He has all the attributes to be an unbelievable 12 or 6.

“Switching between the two [inside-centre and blindside flanker] isn’t easy and when you haven’t played much of the sport it’s incredibly difficult. But Sam’s doing really well. He’s got a great voice in training and he’s a real warrior. In that A league match he also looked very good at flank. He’s a massive threat with the ball in hand and he’s got silky skills too.”

Watson had a personal reason for attending that A league game between Bath and London Irish on a cold Monday night. His younger brother, Callum, played at scrum-half for Irish. Did Big Sam knock over little Callum? “No! But beforehand I was thinking, ‘Wow, he’s only 17 and he’s up against Sam Burgess’. It didn’t faze him. He was a bit nervous but he played well considering his age at that level.”

The middle boy among three brothers, Anthony was even younger when he started out. “I was 16 when I played A league rugby,” he says. “It’s an adjustment. Every step up feels a big deal. I was very nervous playing A league but the year after I was in the first team. It’s followed that kind of transition all the way through to now.”

Watson’s family is steeped in rugby, for his grandfather, Ken, was a hooker for Saracens while his dad, Duncan, played flanker for Wasps. “My granddad passed away [in 2013] but he and my dad are the most inspiring characters in my life. My mum’s been incredible, too. Dad’s in petrochemicals and he goes to Pakistan and Nigeria. It was tough when we were young because he would be away for eight weeks sometimes. Mum was taking Marcus to football, me to rugby and Callum would be crying in the car.” Watson cackles again. But he stresses his pride that his family were together at Twickenham when he made his England debut. “It meant even more that it was against New Zealand. It was pretty special.”

As part of an England side who won the Under-20 World Cup in 2013, Watson knows what it’s like to beat New Zealand. “In the semi-final they were big favourites, so to be the first England side to win the junior World Cup was special – and the manner we did it gave added emphasis. It was a great performance.”

Everything is much more testing at international level but, after four caps in the autumn, Watson looks increasingly comfortable. “It gets easier and you’re just hungry for more. By the end of it I felt as if I belonged. And having Browny [Mike Brown, England’s full-back] helped massively as he’s a great talker.”

Brown did not play with the same verve he displayed in 2013 but he remains England’s likeliest World Cup full-back. Watson has been a revelation in the same position for Bath but he stresses his role at wing is similar. “This time last year I would’ve said, ‘Yeah, I want to play full-back’. But having exposure on the wing and seeing how interchangeable they are I now know it doesn’t make much difference. When a No15 gets caught then a winger will drop back and slot into his position and run as full-back for a few plays. I’m happy playing either position these days.”

Watson’s versatility should assure his World Cup place and even if England might be far more likely to win the 2019 tournament, for their team this year looks slightly too callow, Watson grins helplessly at the giddy prospect of playing in the final in October. “That would be another dream come true,” he says. “But there’s a long way to go before then. I know what I need to do – and that’s play well every week for Bath.”