Gloucester scrum-half Caolan Englefield believes Tomos Williams has had an “immeasurable impact” on his own game during his time at the club.
Williams is leaving the Cherry and Whites at the end of the current campaign, having agreed a deal with Saracens last December.
And despite being in competition for the number nine role during their time at Kingsholm, Englefield, 26, says Williams’ presence has made him a better player.
“In my first season here I thought I knew what it took to be starting Premiership nine, but he came in and blew that world wide open,” said Englefield.
“He has had an immeasurable impact on my game. I have taken those learnings and tried to implement them into my own play, in my support game and my passing too.
“I can feel myself being a bit riskier in my game, because I have seen him do it relentlessly during his time here.
“Tomos has helped me off the pitch too; being a good bloke off the pitch and helping others have a good time is important too.”
Welsh international Williams was named Premiership Player of the Year after his first season at Gloucester last term and was made Cherry and Whites captain for the current campaign.
He has played 32 games for the club ahead of their final Prem match against Newcastle on Saturday and has been a firm favourite among the Kingsholm faithful.
Englefield, too, has enjoyed watching the 31-year-old go about his business.
“He just plays with ultra confidence, he just knuckles down and knows that if something doesn’t work in training, it will probably come off on Saturday.
“With Dan [Robson] coming in next year, I will have another good, experienced international to learn off, but the strides I have taken in the past few years with Tomos will set me up to do that.”
Newcastle a ‘cup final’ for Gloucester
A “frustrating” – by his own admission – injury-affected season shows signs of ending on a high for Englefield, who has enjoyed a run of appearances in George Skivington’s squad in recent weeks.
The scrum-half is aiming to help his side secure a top-eight Prem finish, which would secure Champions Cup qualification, by beating Newcastle on Saturday, with ninth-placed Harlequins – who host leaders Northampton – a point adrift.
A bonus-point win could even see them leapfrog Sale into seventh, if Sharks lose at home to Bristol.
“Skivs has said this is like a cup final for us,” added Englefield. “If you had said to us before Christmas that we could finish as high as seventh, it would have felt like a really good achievement.
“Even if it’s not been the season we were after, it would be amazing after all the work we have put in.
“It’s massive to play against the best in the Champions Cup, the fans get to see top class European rugby here too, so it’s something to be playing for.
“That is something the fans would really deserve; they have kept supporting us all year, no matter the result.”