With the Autumn Internationals commencing in a month’s time, England hopefuls across the Premiership are putting their hands up to be considered for Steve Borthwick’s squad. England kick off their series with a titanic battle against the All Blacks on Saturday November 2nd, and Saracens back row Tom Willis has his sights set on an inclusion in the squad.
Willis has been in an amongst the wider England training camp before, as the former Wasps man made his Test match debut in the 2023 Rugby World Cup warm-up match against Wales. The back-row ran out for a 26 minute effort in the defeat in Cardiff, and was amongst the cohort of players released by Borthwick as he trimmed down the squad for the trip to France.
Willis’ exclusion from the bronze medal winning efforts has only spurred the number eight on, and he spoke in a recent Saracens press conference about how he is aspiring for an extended run in the England team. “Obviously, I’d love to.” Will said. “I think that’s what every English player, that’s the point they’re trying to get to.”
“I had a taste of it a few years ago, and that’s something every English player wants, the place they want to get to. So, I’d love to, I’d love to be involved, but we’ll see what happens. Things keep going well with club and we’ll see.”
Whilst Willis keeps his head down and grinds out the hard yards for England contention, his Saracens Director of Rugby Mark McCall is signing Willis’ praises at a louder decibel. McCall has full faith in his hard-hitting back row to earn a place in Steve Borthwick’s England squad, when the wider training group is unveiled for a camp in Girona, Spain.
“I haven’t heard anything yet from from England. I’m surprised if Tom’s not in the in the group.” McCall said, in the same Saracens media session. “I haven’t heard anything yet, but we’ve got a couple of others who are not as established, who were hopeful for but you never really know, someone like Hugh Tizard.”
There will be the additional opportunity for Willis to gain England honours this November, even if the 25-year-old is not included in the senior squad plans. The England A team will make its return for a fixture against Australia A, with Steve Borthwick expected to be casting a keen eye over the action at the Twickenham Stoop.
Harkening back to Willis’ earlier England camp involvement, and the Saracen expressed how it was incredible useful to share the environment with his older brother Jack Willis. Whilst the back row has since been ruled ineligible following his contract extension with Toulouse, Tom Willis relished the opportunity to share the England camp with his sibling on the run up to the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
“Luckily, when I went in, he (Jack Willis) was actually there. So we’d be discussing throughout, really. He’d always be there to sort of lend an ear and talk through anything. Talk through team meetings, learning line outs, learning set-piece moves. He was brilliant to have around and I experienced that for a lot of my career, and especially coming through at Wasps, he was always a massive help me, and definitely a role model for me as well.
“We had a good period of time playing together. He’s obviously now kicked on doing fantastic stuff in France. He’s always been a massive help.”
The Willis brothers certainly spent the majority of their playing days alongside each other, be it in the yellow and black of their former Wasps team, or whilst donning the red rose in the England camp. However, there was one more recent fixture that saw the siblings clash on opposing sides, as following the collapse of Wasps, Tom signed for Bordeaux-Begles, who took on a Toulouse side that boasted his brother in the back row for a Top 14 fixture.
“We did play against each other in one game. It was a bit of a weird one. I don’t think my family enjoyed it too much. I didn’t enjoy it really either, because I’ve been used to playing with him my whole life. Actually running into him and tackling him was not something that I (expected), I think we tried to avoid each other as much for good.”
Once Willis’ brief contract in the Top 14 came to an end, he took the opposite road to his brother and returned to the Premiership instead of extending his stay in France. Willis expressed how he feels very settled into life in North London, and received high praise from Mark McCall on how he’s taken to his second Sarries campaign, beginning with an arduous effort throughout the latest pre-season.
“The club was very welcoming.” Willis said. “It’s nice to know where I am, and being in a settled spot. My girlfriend’s happy in her work as well. It’s nice to know you’re not going to be jetting off to a different country, or your club’s (not) going to disappear. The first season is a season you spend all year settling in. Now, in my second season, I feel a lot more part of the squad, and you then have new signings coming in, and you’re a bit more part of it.”
“When he first came to the club, or just last preseason, he was carrying an injury and he never had his preseason.” McCall explained. This season was completely different to last season. So he came back for it. He’s had a very strong 10 weeks. I think we’re on record as our players who have been here from day one, went through probably the hardest preseason that we’ve had.
“Tom was one of the guys who’s right at the front of that, so he’s probably in the best shape that he’s been in, and we can see that in his performances. Because although he’s been super physical, from a carrying and defensive point of view, some of his work off the ball, and some of his effort has been outstanding. He’s playing really well, and I think the fact that he’s on top of his body has been a real help to him.”
“Tom’s certainly hit the ground running at the start of the season. He’s been absolutely outstanding in both matches, and long might continue.”
Willis is enjoying the opportunity to train week-in and week-out with Ben Earl, as the England back row continues to fly on the Test match stage. McCall expressed how Willis and Earl have a solid friendship, and they drive one another at the North London training centre, to get the best out of their performances once they line up in the Saracens ‘Wolfpack’.
“It shows what happens you take your opportunity. So he got given that opportunity before the World Cup, and he took it with both hands, and, he did a fantastic job for them. The last two years he’s been one of England’s best players. So that’s definitely an example set to the rest of us.”
As well as Earl, McCall and Willis discussed how Saracens are blessed with a staggering squad depth across the back row.
“Ben’s great. He’s obviously an outstanding player.” Willis said. “He’s been brilliant for England the last few years as well. But there’s loads of boys in the back five. We’re working, working hard, (Andy Onyeama-) Christie, Juan (Martin Gonzalez). We all do our extras together, and we will strive to get better discussions around the game. We’re all looking to get the club in a better place.”
“They’re (Ben Earl and Tom Willis) good friends, they’re close. They’re both trying to help and support each other.” McCall added. “It’s not trying to get one over on each other, in any shape or form.
“They’re both trying to help each other and they both understand, that with some of the back row forwards we’ve got, that we will run a proper rotation policy this year with them. It’s important that they all see, that they’re not going to play every minute of every game, because that’s not sensible either. So everybody’s supporting each other in this.
“We’ve got people like Andy Christie playing really well. Toby Knight, he’s a young guy coming through Gonzales, he’s now back in the building. So we’ve got plenty of people here who want to play as much as possible, but trust the club to look after them and make sure that their energy stays high the whole year.”
The question then remains, as to whether Tom Willis will be able to emulate the actions of his Saracens back row teammate upon the England stage. Whilst there is only space for one occupant to take up the eight jersey in the England team, Earl has proven his versatility to move across to the flanks, in what could open up the door for his teammate.
“He really just needs to be himself.” McCall added. “I think if Tom plays for England the way he spent for Saracens, he’ll be just fine. Tom’s good enough to play international rugby, I think everyone can see that, and when he gets there, just don’t play within yourself. Play with the freedom that he does here. If he does, he’ll go really well.”
Upon his first season in North London, Willis had opportune learnings from not just Ben Earl, but also Billy Vunipola in the back row ranks. The former England eight-man has since swapped the StoneX for a career in the French Top 14, as he headed to Montpellier at the end of the 2023/24 Premiership season. Willis closed out the call by discussing what he learned from the 75-capped England international, during their shared time at Saracens.
“Yeah, (it was) massive. He’s a very intelligent rugby player, especially a lot of stuff around the set piece and scrum time. He’s obviously very experienced. He sort of pulled me to the side at different times to go through carrying, and the way you come onto the ball, different ways you approach different situations.
“He was great. I didn’t ask him too much about the Top 14, but as I’m sure you’ve seen, he’s doing a great job at Montpellier straight away. So he’s gone very well.”