Celtic League news: Gavin Cummiskey talks to Leinster's Cillian Willis about his determination to master the scrumhalf's role
Michael Cheika was strolling past the video room recently when he spied 31-times capped Wallaby scrumhalf Chris Whitaker and four-times capped Leinster understudy Cillian Willis glued to the screen.
Cheika warned his fellow countryman not to convey too much knowledge, "We might have to make a decision between who gets the jersey in the not too distant future."
Whitaker took no notice. Neither has Guy Easterby when it comes to advising the former Blackrock schoolboy on the nuances of manipulating a game.
Because that's what a number nine must do. Decision-making is the key. Peter Stringer is the benchmark in Ireland but Munster's finest is regularly flipped when attempting to break although his intuitive Heineken European Cup final Millennium Stadium try displayed a marked improvement in this regard.
A scrumhalf must know when to go, when to spread play and when to corral the grunt merchants into persistent action. Improvement comes naturally with game time.
Alas, Whitaker is expected to return from shoulder nerve damage for tomorrow's Magners Celtic League encounter against Glasgow. Easterby remains sidelined with a fractured jaw so Willis could yet feature. At least 15 minutes would be just reward for recent displays when dropped into European Cup duty with little notice.
Injuries presented the former Irish under-21 with an opportunity to test himself in the white heat of battle against Gloucester and Edinburgh. He passed with honours.
"I played okay but there are a lot of areas of my game where I made mistakes," he said in a self-effacing manner. "Obviously I would like to iron this out. I learned so much over the last few weeks but there is so much more you keep on learning - especially with Chris and Guy around."
Whenever a team is awarded an opportunity for a quick tap it is the scrumhalf's job to retrieve the ball from the opposing forwards. Last Friday night the Dragons' scrum collapsed and Willis scampered among the Welsh forwards only to be greeted by a giant lock, who proceeded to staple a paw to his jersey until, that is, prop Ronan McCormack intervened. All part of the education process of being an unknown in the professional ranks.
"Well that's it. I suppose I have noticed in one or two of the matches getting held down off the ball or pinned down. It's just a case of not rising to it."
Until recently it had been a frustrating road for the UCD commerce graduate, having missed this year's under-21 international season through injury and being suspended, somewhat harshly, for six weeks in the previous campaign following a red card against Scotland. The ball was there, so was the man.
Affectionately christened "Scrappy" by Leinster colleagues, including first cousin Brian O'Driscoll, thus far he has shown a composed temperament.
"Last season was a frustrating time in that I kept getting injured and I just wanted to get back playing. My focus in the last year was only on getting back playing rugby. Be as prepared as I can so if my chance does come I might be able to take it. The two injuries to the lads came somewhat out of the blue so it was a bit of a surprise but it wasn't too much pressure because all I was really doing was thinking about each match and what I specifically had to do."
A period back in the shadows looks likely but not before Ireland A meet Australia at Thomond Park. Provided, of course, he is afforded the opportunity having been named as a replacement.
Willis's pass is the first one genuinely comparable to the razor-sharp Stringer service. Others, like Easterby and Isaac Boss, bring a physicality but Willis can whip a lateral pass 40 yards with ease. The basics are there in abundance, now he requires experience. "The major aspect of my game I need to improve is decision-making. I suppose that's one of the main functions of a scrumhalf, if I keep on improving that I'll be happy."
So will Irish rugby.
