Jack Willis hopes ‘special’ England debut a taste of things to come as he sets ambitions on permanent place

Flanker scored on his England debut against Georgia, but with stiff competition for the No 7 shirt, the Wasps flanker knows he can not afford to rest on his laurels if he is to remain on the international stage

Jack Willis hopes his first England cap won’t be his last after making a try-scoring debut (Getty)

Try-scoring debutant Jack Willis is determined to force his way into Eddie Jones’s first-team plans to ensure the next time he scores for his country, he can enjoy the special moment with his friends, family and thousands of fans in attendance.

The Wasps flanker scored England’s opening try just 13 minutes into his first appearance on Saturday, paving the way for their 40-0 victory over Georgia in their opening Autumn Nations Cup fixture.

But with Sam Underhill rested for the fixture and both Tom Curry and Ben Earl other in-form options at openside flanker, Willis faces a tough ask to keep the No 7 shirt.

His debut ended a two-and-a-half year wait for his first cap, having initially been selected for the 2018 summer tour of South Africa only for a serious knee suffered in the Premiership semi-finals to cost him his place.

“It’s been a whirlwind couple of years with the injuries,” Willis said. “I wasn’t really thinking about that over the last few days, it’s just excitement, nerves, all sports of emotions.

“But as it got closer, it’s pure excitement and I couldn’t wait to get out there with this incredible group, lots of hard-working lads that really want to put a shift in.

“I feel very grateful to be a part of it.”

Willis may have impressed in his first international appearance, though opportunities to showcase his main attributes in the breakdown were slim given Georgia’s lack of time in possession. England enjoyed more than 70 per cent of possession in the first half, and although Georgia were able to get their hands on the ball more in the second half, Willis had already departed as Jones introduced Earl in the back row.

As is always the case, it is hard to know Jones’s thinking at this stage of a Test week. The removal of Willis may have been to save his legs for this weekend’s clash with Ireland in a game that will pose a much bigger physical challenge and one where England won’t enjoy as much of possession, but it was more likely to introduce Earl’s athleticism in attack to try and break down a stubborn Georgian defence.

And with Underhill due to return this week, there is the very real possibility that Willis goes from England try-scorer last weekend to a Wasps starter this week, with players outside of the matchday 23 set to be released back to their clubs as the new Premiership season gets underway.

If Willis isn’t required with the national team this week, it will not dampen his appetite to return to the biggest stage after experiencing it on his own last weekend. With no fans allowed in to Twickenham, Willis’s family had to watch his long-awaited special moment from home, and the 23-year-old hopes to give them something to saviour by remaining in Jones’s plans for when stadia doors are reopened - whenever that may be.

“I loved every second of it. It was incredible to get out there and a massive honour,” he added.

“It was a very strange experience not to have family and friends there but it’s given me extra motivation to work hard enough to have another opportunity one day and have them here.

“It doesn’t make the moment or occasion any less special. It’s something I’ve dreamed of since I was a young lad. It’s an incredible feeling to finally get here.

“I’ve got to work incredibly hard to improve all areas of my game if I want to keep competing in this back row. There’s some pretty special talent in that mix. For everyone in the team, if you don’t continue improving, then you are going to get left behind. At the forefront of my mind is working hard, trying to improve and staying in that mix.”