Top 14 – The truths of Jack Willis with Toulouse
The English third line, best player in the premiership in 2020, arrives in Haute-Garonne with frustrations to evacuate and high ambitions in mind.
Last Sunday, in Lyon, the general French public discovered Jack Willis in the colors of Stade Toulouse. In around 30 minutes and seven charges, the 25-year-old England international showed what he could bring to his new team. On Tuesday, the former spearhead of the Wasps was awarded.
His current state of mind
“It’s going well after a few crazy weeks: there was what happened to Wasps, the month spent in selection and then here I am in France. It’s been a lot of changes in a short time. It’s all the harder I had always been at Wasps. Luckily everyone is going out of their way to help me and there are plenty of guys who speak very good English. I’m just disgusted that I started with a loss.”
His arrival in Toulouse
“I trained on Monday and last Tuesday with the XV de la Rose and I flew on Tuesday evening. Tuesday is the day Eddie Jones selects his 25 players for the weekend match. Normally, if you are not selected, you return to your English club. For me, it was the big departure for France. I was immediately in the bath because four days later, I was in Lyon .”
His departure from England
“It was very hard to take. You know, I studied at Wasps with my brother (Tom, gone to UBB). Having to part with him was the most painful thing. I love the feeling of playing alongside him so much. We took different paths. Now my family and I are focused on this new chapter in Toulouse. I am very excited about this challenge. I have a great hunger for titles. I want to be part of something beautiful here.”
The choice of Toulouse
“I had a first exchange with the club just before the rally with the selection. I was immediately impressed by the speeches of the coaches and by the quality of the team. I could feel their ambition to win from a distance. trophies. I think Toulouse is the place I needed to progress. For me to become a better rugby player and also a better person: discovering another culture, trying out another language , I’m interested in all that, even if “I don’t speak French very well” (in French). That goes for my family too. I have a 1 year old boy. He and my wife arrived yesterday (Monday).”
His ambitions
“I want to improve as a rugby player. Toulouse manages to produce an incredible attacking game. I love the ability of this collective to bring the ball to life, to pass after contact. new direction on the offensive plan. Especially since I like to carry the ball. If I project myself a little further and if I manage to be efficient, I hope that I will be selected for the 6 Nations. And after , we will focus on winning the titles.”
His future
“I think I would like to stay here. We have to see how it goes. Everything has changed so quickly in the last few weeks. We will see if there is an option to continue the adventure here and we will study it if it is the case. But who knows what the future holds?