England flanker Jack Willis will be given further specialist advice in the next fortnight to gauge the full extent of a knee injury that looks likely to end his season.
The Wasps forward suffered extensive damage to his left leg after he was pulled out of a ruck during England's 41-18 Guinness Six Nations victory over Italy at Twickenham on Saturday.
Wasps head coach Lee Blackett said: "He is going to see the specialist again in the next 10-14 days.
We're all right behind you @jackswillis7 💪🌹 https://t.co/9v0SoALsNT — England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) February 15, 2021
"We will know a lot more when he sees the specialist and it settles down. I can't tell you exactly how long (he will be out), but it is a pretty significant injury."
Willis' leg buckled awkwardly when Sebastian Negri used the legal but contentious 'crocodile roll' technique to twist him out of the ruck.
Asked during a Wasps virtual press conference if Willis would be out for the season, Blackett added: "I think he is going to be out for a good chunk of time. I don't want to say exactly, but I think you are not a million miles off that timescale.
"I have spoken to him a few times on text. He is pretty down, probably because when you have had a serious injury you know what is coming and you know what a big challenge it is.
"The one thing about Jack is he is an out and out professional, and he will get back as quickly as anyone could possibly get back."
Willis was named in England's squad for their 2018 tour to South Africa but had to withdraw because of a serious injury to his right knee, before his career endured the additional setback of a significant ankle problem.
The reigning player of the season broke into Eddie Jones' squad for the first time last autumn, only to endure this latest interruption to his promising international career.
💘 @tomwillis12 was epic today... And he brought the brotherly love for @jackswillis7 too! pic.twitter.com/Hq4kYw1iTJ — Wasps Rugby (@WaspsRugby) February 14, 2021
"I can't tell you, really, what happened in the game after Jack got injured. It was pretty gutting," Blackett said.
"Everyone who knows Jack knows what type of person he is. He cares so passionately about what he does.
"To come through from his last injury, he is as tough as they come, and to see the pain on his face, you knew it was serious.
"It was a pretty dark place. Even the next day, you could see players pretty down about it when they came in.
"He is someone everyone has such a close attachment with. It is quite difficult to really get my words out on him."
Eddie Jones expects Willis to return a stronger player and sees the example of World Cup winner Richard Hill, who performs the role of England team manager, as inspiration for the 24-year-old.
"There's no reason why Jack can't come back bigger and better than he is now" said Jones, an Umbro ambassador.
"These sorts of significant injuries, particularly when you get two of them, are a real test of your resilience, your mental resilience.
"He's got a great example on our staff in Richard Hill, who had to have multiple knee operations and kept coming back better. There's no reason why Jack can't come back better.
"He's just starting his career and all his best rugby is ahead of him. All we can do is hope that he fully recovers from this injury and comes back better."
