The ‘valid point’ why an ex-England player can’t get enough of ‘most forceful ball-carrier in the English league’
Tom Willis on the carry for England last June and Stuart Barnes, inset
Former England out-half Stuart Barnes believes Tom Willis has the tools to show this weekend that he is poised to take things to another level with Steve Borthwick’s national team this November.
The 26-year-old younger brother of Toulouse’s Jack Willis has been an England starter in six of his last eight appearances – including the June uncapped match versus France – but has yet to become an 80-minute man at international level.
However, after enjoying a flying start to the new PREM Rugby season with Saracens, Barnes has sung the praises of Willis ahead of his latest outing, this Sunday’s London derby against Harlequins.
Ahead of the visit to The Stoop, Willis received a clear endorsement from Saracens coach Mark McCall, who has opted to name Willis at No.8 and start Ben Earl, the British and Irish Lions tourist, at openside in his first appearance in the 2025/26 campaign.
“Big moments”
Earl has long been Borthwick’s preferred choice at No.8 for England, but selection by Andy Farrell to tour Australia allowed Willis the opportunity to start the two series matches away to Argentina and the one-off fixture in the USA.
Willis has since hit the ground running with powerful displays for Saracens in their convincing wins over Newcastle and Bristol, and Barnes now expects him to be just as prominent when he faces Harlequins 20 days before England open their four-match Autumn Nations Series at home to Australia on November 1.
Writing in The Times, Barnes reckoned: “In Tom Willis, Mark McCall’s men have the most dynamic ball-carrying forward in the Prem. Twelve months ago, Tom was the younger brother of Jack. Now he is vying to make Toulouse’s 28-year-old flanker become known as Tom’s elder brother.
“Tom returned to the English club scene after a successful spell at Bordeaux. He picked up a solitary, forgotten World Cup warm-up cap against Wales during the wasteland of England’s nightmare non-rugby period that was Steve Borthwick’s first year in charge.
“But while Saracens struggled to stay at the top, the No.8 has steadily matured into the most forceful ball-carrier in the English league.
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“The England head coach caught up with public opinion – to a certain extent – when he included Willis in the match-day squads for the entire Six Nations this year. He started against France, Scotland and Italy but failed to make it past the 54-minute mark.
“In the first and final games, he was named on the bench with Ben Earl the starting No.8. Earl, back from his enforced rest, will be openside flanker to Willis’ No.8 at the Stoop.
“While Earl was away with the Lions, Willis was winning his seventh and eighth caps for England in South America. In addition, he played in the pre-tour, non-capped match against France at Twickenham.
“He was on the pitch for 55, 62 and 65 minutes in the course of the summer. An explosive carrier but not one of Borthwick’s 80-minute men. As if he hasn’t quite proved himself to be the epicentre for England as he is for Saracens.
“After Saracens put 50 points past Bristol Bears, McCall described Willis’ ‘big moments’ so far this season. They can’t, technically speaking, be gigantic because the opposition had been blown away. But the point he made was valid.
“Renowned as both dynamic and durable on the front foot, the early weeks of the Prem have witnessed Willis dominating breakdowns in a defensive capacity. He is slowing phase ball or stealing it. Or both.
“The returning Owen Farrell has understandably hogged the headlines but for Harlequins to win on Sunday, it is Willis, more than any other Saracens player, who must be negated. If the home side are yet again forced to make more than 200 tackles, the odds are stacked against them.”
Switching to the No.8’s attacking prowess, Barnes added: “Willis doesn’t have the softness of hands of Billy Vunipola, but there was an offload last week that suggested he will soon be offloading like brother Jack and his Toulouse mates. With Willis spearheading such an offensive, Saracens will certainly be mixing it with the best in England.”
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