Page 15 - Crusaders v The Lions

DHL NEW ZEALAND LIONS SERIES 2017 // 15
He made his England debut against the Crusaders he’s coached by Todd Blackadder and he he he made his full Test debut against the All Blacks – New Zealand is going to feature heavily in in Anthony Watson’s scrapbook
of achievements WORDS: JAMES STAFFORD
IT IT WAS IN IN THIS THIS VERY CITY AGAINST THIS THIS very team in 2014 that Anthony Watson rst rst pulled on on on on the England jersey and and made his rst rst tentative steps to becoming a a a a a a a British & Irish Lion “I remember the the the ground It was a a a a a a a a a pretty cool
ground ground to to play at at at and then they had some horses charging on on before the the the the game – that was was pretty cool
too ” Watson recalls “The atmosphere was was was awesome and obviously I enjoyed the the the game We won on on the the day
but it was was a a a a a a a a a a a a tough place to to play that’s for sure It’s what we expect out here ” On that that that day
England won 38-7 with Watson among the the scorers It’s testament to his progress that that that of the the young and and and more experienced players England put out that that day
only he he and and and and James Haskell are are now regulars with Eddie Jones’ side and and and are are also part of the Lions squad here in in New Zealand While Watson didn’t didn’t win a a a a a a a a a a a a a Test cap on on on on on on that tour he he he didn’t didn’t have to to to to wait long to to to to earn full honours Just a a a a a a a a a a a few months later he he came off the bench with 20 minutes to to to go as as Stuart Lancaster’s England fell short of of a a a a a a a a a a a a famous win over the All Blacks at at Twickenham going down by 24-12 “It was pretty crazy ” says Watson when asked today about making his his debut against one one of the the greatest sides in in in rugby history “Obviously New Zealand is is is the the the game everyone wants to to to win so to to to be thrown in in the the deep end on on my rst cap was a a a a a a a a great experience “Everyone in New Zealand is so passionate about their rugby rugby You turn on on on on the the the the telly and and there’s schoolboy under 18 rugby rugby on on – you know it’s serious when they show that that level ” “It was a a a a a a a a a real eye-opener during that that 2014 tour Kiwi
fans will always tell you you their team is going to to to beat you you too So I’ll certainly take the the the the learnings from that side of things and look to to apply them with the the the the Lions There will be a a a a a a a a a lot
of commotion around the the the the rugby so you need to to stay focused on on the game ” And now – – just last week in in fact – – he he he has not only made his British & Irish Lions debut in in New Zealand but but he he he he also scored a a a a a a a a a a a second-half try that saved the the the tourists as they struggled to to to contain the the the pumped-up New Zealand Provincial Barbarians who up up up until that point had threatened to to to cause the the the biggest upset in in the the the history of the the the series PROFILE
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