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How Saracens' Willis adapted his game in Top 14 before joining stacked back row
Saracens’ summer signing Tom Willis is “looking forward” to battling with a host of Test stars to start in the Gallagher Premiership champions’ back row this season.
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The 24-year-old arrived at the StoneX Stadium at the end of last season from Top 14 outfit Bordeaux-Begles and has made a good start to life in London, starting in the first three matches of the Premiership season and scoring two tries in a win over Gloucester. However, he started on the bench on Saturday in a victory over Leicester Tigers as Ben Earl and Billy Vunipola both returned from the World Cup with England.
With Samoa’s Theo McFarland, Argentina’s Juan Martin Gonzalez, Scotland’s Andie Christie, and even locks Maro Itoje and Nick Isiekwe being just the Test stars that are competing with Willis for a back row berth at Saracens, he knows he has his work cut out for him to start in a back row that is as good as any in the club game, but it is nevertheless a challenge he is relishing.
Speaking to the Saracens.com recently, the former Wasps loose forward said he prefers to play No8, a jersey Vunipola has been custodian of for the best part of the decade. Vunipola himself even faces stiff competition from Earl, who established himself as England’s starting No8 in a sensational World Cup campaign. But the one-cap England international feels this competition will only improve the team.
“I prefer to play at No8 because I enjoy carrying the ball and that side of the game,” last season’s Top 14 semi-finalist said. “I know Billy is the established player in that position, and that Ben got a run of starts there for England and did incredibly well at the World Cup, but it’s that competition for places that I’m looking forward to.
“Back row is a massively competitive area in the team, but that is only good for each of us and will be good for the team when you are looking to fight on multiple fronts over the season. It means you have to fight in every day and in every training session to earn your place in the team.
“The World Cup players will be back in a week or so and that will give everyone at the club a huge lift. Coming to Saracens has been completely different to anything else I’ve experienced in my career, but I’m loving it.”
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One thing that might give Willis an advantage over his teammates is his experience of playing in the Top 14 last season. The No8 joined Bordeaux in November last year after Wasps went into administration, and had a standout season which culminated in him making England’s initial World Cup training squad and earning his first cap against Wales in a World Cup warm-up.
Willis also explained how he had to adapt his game in France due to the physical nature of the league, which forced him to change he way he carried the ball.
“I had to adapt my game massively when I went to play in France,” he said. “It is a far more physical league, there are some strange refereeing decisions, and the fans are absolutely mad. You can’t afford to just run in straight lines because you get smashed by two or three people.”
Saracens face bottom of the league Newcastle Falcons this Sunday at Kingston Park.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Tamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
1 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
33 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
33 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to comments