Anthony Watson is hoping to impress at England’s Six Nations training camp this week in order to push his claims for a starting berth in Saturday’s championship opener.
The Bath Rugby youngster is one of six back-three players in England head coach Stuart Lancaster’s squad currently undergoing their final preparations the away contest against France.
Watson is up against the likes of England regulars Chris Ashton, Mike Brown and Alex Goode in the race for selection in Paris.
However, the 19-year-old says he and fellow youngsters Jack Nowell and Jonny May are simply relishing the chance to learn from their established Red Rose colleagues at Pennyhill Park.
“Look, I am just going to concentrate on training,†said Watson.
“I am just going to try to learn from every training session and develop from there. It was good last week. It was a great experience to be with the senior guys.
“It’s awesome just to get out there and learn from the likes of Ashy [Chris Ashton] and the other back-three players.
“It’s really good for us young boys to be able to learn from these guys. I think we have all developed in the short time we have been there. It’s great to be part of that camp.â€
Watson has been Bath’s first-choice full-back since arriving at the club from Premiership rivals London Irish last summer.
Last weekend, however, he was deployed on the wing for England Saxons as they fell to a 14-8 defeat to Ireland Wolfhounds at Kingsholm.
England boss Lancaster was keen for Watson to get more game time in that position and moved him from the senior squad to the second string specifically for the match, suggesting he is in line to start out wide against France.
Watson scored Saxons’ only try in the game and said: “I have only played there twice this year so it was good to get a run out against an experienced Irish side in a tough game.
“I found out on Wednesday that I was playing and Stuart just said he wanted me to get some game time on the wing. I am going to learn a lot from Saturday. I only had two training sessions but I felt comfortable going into it.
Bath Rugby youngster Anthony Watson learning from England experience
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