3 weeks ago
Investec Champions Cup semi-final
Venue: Stadium de Toulouse Date: Sunday 5 May Time: 15:00 BST
Coverage: Live commentary connected BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra; unrecorded matter updates connected BBC Sport website and app
Toulouse flanker Jack Willis says he nary longer puts unit connected himself to execute and is thriving successful nan southbound of France.
Willis initially joined Toulouse connected a short-term woody aft erstwhile nine Wasps went into administration, earlier signing a three-year statement successful April 2023.
The 27-year-old won nan Top 14 title past play but says he now feels "freer" successful his mind arsenic Toulouse cogwheel up to look Harlequins connected Sunday successful nan Champions Cup semi-finals, pinch a home and European double still available.
"From a rugby constituent of view, I person learned to springiness it everything I tin during nan week but besides return a spot of unit disconnected myself," said Willis.
"You person tons going done your mind and you request to organise things correctly aliases it tin go rather exhausting and bog you down.
"I person been doing immoderate awesome activity pinch nan scientist and it frees maine up going into games."
Five-time winners Toulouse are nan astir successful nine successful nan history of nan Champions Cup and booked their spot successful nan past 4 as they saw disconnected a spirited Exeter side successful nan quarter-finals.
Willis has won 14 England caps but is ineligible for Test action because of a Rugby Football Union (RFU) norm that intends players tin only beryllium picked for nan nationalist squad if they compete successful nan Premiership.
The flanker, however, is relishing playing alongside stars specified arsenic France internationals Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack, and Scotland's Blair Kinghorn.
He added: "When I first came I only signed for a fewer months and past I made nan determination to widen pinch bully reason.
"It's an unthinkable spot pinch a awesome group of players, coaches, and group astir nan club.
"It's truthful competitory and it really tests you arsenic a player. When everyone is fresh you person to beryllium astatine your absolute champion to beryllium picked and I emotion that."
Willis says nan club's European pedigree is besides not mislaid connected him.
"When it comes to Europe, it is incredibly special," said Willis. "We person specified a rich | history successful nan title and they are truthful passionate to adhd to that.
"The president pushes nan coaching unit and nan coaching unit push america and we each want to triumph things. This group has nan belief but we cognize really overmuch difficult activity that means."
Willis' other number and chap Englishman Will Evans is enjoying an influential play for Quins, without yet winning nan attraction of England caput coach Steve Borthwick.
Evans' expertise successful stealing possession astatine nan breakdown has travel to nan fore successful nan Premiership this term.
"Will is simply a awesome player, unthinkable complete nan shot and vulnerable to really we want to play," said Willis.
"We want a flowing onslaught and to look aft nan shot but he is simply a threat to that, truthful we person to nullify him arsenic overmuch arsenic we can.
"It's a communal respect. I ever support an oculus connected him and for illustration to spot him making a turnover aliases two."
Harlequins are playing successful their first Champions Cup semi-final aft edging a thrilling last-eight necktie successful Bordeaux but Willis is each excessively alert of nan situation they will pose.
He added: "If you springiness them an inch they will return a mile. When they play and summation momentum, their chests puff retired and disconnected they go.
"It is truthful important to get going early and not fto what happened to Bordeaux hap to us."
