England's rivals urged to select 'best in the world' Jack Willis

Former England fly-half Andy Goode has labelled Toulouse flanker Jack Willis “the best player in the world” following his Investec Champions Cup quarter-final display against Bordeaux-Begles on Sunday, adding that England have “got to pick him”.

Willis is currently ineligible to be selected for England as he plays overseas, as his brother Tom will be next season when he joins Bordeaux, but he put in a performance at the weekend which reminded all England fans of what they’re missing. The 29-year-old made a match-leading 16 carries in a 30-15 loss to Bordeaux, as well as a number of trademark turnovers at the breakdown and two try-saving tackles.

In light of this performance, Goode heaped praise on the 14-cap international on The Rugby Pod this week, describing him as “an absolute freak show”, while fellow podcast host Jim Hamilton said “he’s a level above what we’ve seen in the back-row for England,” and Dan Biggar said “I just don’t see anybody as good as Jack Willis” in England.

While Goode urged England to select the flanker, there has been no indication that he will don the white jersey any time soon. The former fly-half did send a message to Ireland head coach Andy Farrell, as well.

Willis qualifies for Ireland through his grandfather, and he would have completed World Rugby’s mandatory three-year stand-down period by October, making him eligible to represent Ireland in November. While Ireland hold a similar policy to England in refraining from selecting overseas players, there have been faint murmurs over talks between Willis and Munster. Any such move would be a huge opportunity missed for England.

Player Carries

1

Antoine Dupont

16

2

Jack Willis

16

3

Matthieu Jalibert

13

“For me, with Jack Willis, it’s not even the stuff that you’re seeing, or the casual fan will see around turnovers and carries, his work rate, his desire, the covering tackles, the work off the ball, is incredible,” Hamilton said on the podcast.

“It is world-class. It reminds me of guys like Richie McCaw, David Pocock, Michael Hooper, the best back-rowers whose names are rolling off the tongue, and these are megastars. What he’s doing in that Toulouse team and the influence that he has both sides of the ball is something I’ve not seen from a back-row, consistently, for a long time.”

Biggar added: “What he’s thought of in France is this guy is an absolute god. This isn’t just the Champions Cup game or the odd match against Bordeaux — he’s doing it every week. He’s playing Montauban away or Bordeaux at home and he is absolutely brilliant. I think, for me, the question would be, if he could be picked, who does he come in for? I love [Tom] Curry, I love [Ben] Earl, I love [Sam] Underhill, they’ve all got amazing abilities and super strengths, but I just don’t see anybody as good as Jack Willis.”

Goode said: “That’s not being harsh on any of the players, he is the standout in the world for what he does. People will say ‘turnover king’, and that is a massive part of his game, but if you watch him – and there was one clip where Bordeaux shot down the outside and it’s Jack Willis getting back to make the tackle – his work rate off the ball, the lines he runs, his strength in contact, whether it’s defence or metres made after contact, he’s a freak show. He’s an absolute freak show. We’ve said this for a long time, it’s a massive shame.

“Do you know whether he’s Irish or not? Should we message his agent and ask if he’s Irish? Because if he is, Andy Farrell, do the right thing, get him involved. Because at the minute he can’t play for England. But what you can argue is that it’s the special circumstances rule that England have got, and you can clearly make a case that the special circumstances are that he is the best player in the world, so we’ve got to pick him.

Hamilton continued: “It’s become undeniable now. We’ve been talking him up, but from what I’ve seen this season and in that game at the weekend in the Champions Cup, he’s a level above what we’ve seen in the back-row for England, which is a big statement, but that’s how good he is.”