Anthony Watson

[Epaminondas Pules]

Anyone seen the video of Anthony Watson at the final whistle? The emotion is really eye opening. To have faced such adversity and then reach a World Cup final is truly amazing.

[p/d]

That video just highlights that they were all stitched up by some hairdresser!!!

[Puja]

That's really nice. One can't say that he hasn't worked hard for this and he deserves some good days.

Puja

[Epaminondas Pules]

Especially as he’s such a lovely guy. As genuine as they come.

[richy678]

Thats brilliant. Thats the type of guy who should represent us at sport.

[Puja]

Wasps are now flying his brother out to support him in the final, a la Sale.

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

I can’t get over how weird it must feel for Ben, knowing that with a flip of a coin that could be him.

[Mellsblue]

But for an injury prior to the BaaBaas match it could’ve been him. BCurry was initially Eddie’s favourite.

[Digby]

Wasps are now flying his brother out to support him in the final, a la Sale.

Puja

It's the right thing to do. And they should be able to pick up loads of free media coverage with their sponsor's logos suitably placed

[Mikey Brown]

But for an injury prior to the BaaBaas match it could’ve been him. BCurry was initially Eddie’s favourite.

Yep, couldn’t remember the details but was sure Ben was the first name Eddie flirted with.

[Puja]

But for an injury prior to the BaaBaas match it could’ve been him. BCurry was initially Eddie’s favourite.

Yep, couldn’t remember the details but was sure Ben was the first name Eddie flirted with.

While Eddie picking one brother and ostracising the other (and swapping based on one injury) is clearly weird, I think Tom was the right one to bank on - he was always more physical and imposing in the carry, even if Ben was better at the breakdown (initially. Hard to tell now that Tom's had training with England). I don't know we'd be in the same position had Ben been the chosen one.

It's still weird that we've chosen to develop only Tom though. Feels like Eddie's trying to make a modern art piece about England wasting 50% of their talent.

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

My brain really struggles with idea they could possibly play in a different way to eachother. Certainly now Tom has had a year or two with England they’ll have developed in different ways though.

[Numbers]

To go back on topic I've always thought of him as a decent bloke, no edge to him at all and your best winger imo.

[Digby]

It might be of course Ben goes on to have a much more successful career with Tom doing lots of extra work/damage at such an early age

[Mellsblue]

From The Times:

Anthony Watson has endured his own pain and frustration over the past year. A year ago he was unable to walk without a limp after he ruptured his achilles tendon against Ireland in the Six Nations and then suffered the same injury again after the initial operation had failed to work. It was 17 months before Watson played again for England, in the warm-up game against Wales, but he is arguably better than ever.

That journey hit him in those moments after the semi-final victory over New Zealand. “I tried lying and saying that my eye was bleeding [Watson had taken a blow to the eye in the first half] but not many people believed me,” he said. “After the 13 months that I have had, this time last year I couldn’t lift my heel off the floor and I could barely walk without a limp, so I was very appreciative for the moment I had there and then.

“There were two or three days in particular where I was very dark, considering whether I’d ever again be able to run at the same speed, change direction and stuff like that.

“Those days were very tough. I was lucky that I had a very strong support group around me of friends and family. Kyle Sinckler is someone who I spoke to regularly about my mindset throughout the injury and he helped me loads. The physios have been world class. I’m very appreciative of the position we’re in this week.”