Collier banking on scrum supremacy for Test recall

THREE years after an all-too-brief Test baptism with England, Harlequins set-piece specialist Will Collier has set his sights on returning to the international arena.

- NEALE HARVEY

Touring Argentina in 2017 was a highlight of Collier’s career – a two-Test assignment in which he came off the bench twice for Harry Williams, notching a try in the second Test in Santa Fe, where a thrilling 35-25 victory secured a 2-0 series win in the absence of England’s Lions.

One of those missing stars, Kyle Sinckler, has hogged the limelight ever since, condemning Collier to live in the shadows as his all-singing, all-dancing colleague has dominated the tighthead position for club and country.

However, for Quins at least, that is set to change.

With Sinckler moving to Bristol, Collier, 29, told The Rugby Paper: “It’s an exciting opportunity for me. I’ve loved being in the same squad as Kyle and over the years we’ve pushed each other and learned from each other, but we’re very different players and I’m just going to focus on what I really pride myself on now, which is my set-piece and scrummaging.

“Kyle’s x-factor is different to my x-factor so it’s not about me thinking that I’ve now got to do all these linebreaks and things that aren’t my natural strengths.