Wasps fans welcome back 6'3, 110kg unit they see as potential England World Cup bolter
Wasps and England fans have taken to Twitter to welcome Jack Willis back to the matchday squad after nine months out. The 22-year-old flanker is one the bench for the visit from Sale to the Ricoh Arena on Saturday.
He had been selected for England’s tour to South Africa at the end of last season before rupturing his ACL against Saracens in the Premiership semi-final.
It was a major setback for a player that looked destined to challenge for an England shirt under Eddie Jones.
Many Wasps fans are clearly very excited to see the flanker return, particularly as Wasps have not been at their best at times this season.
Continue reading below…
With a number of players on international duty as well this weekend, this is a boost that Dai Young and the fans needed. This is what they had to say:
https://twitter.com/Vincent_Wasps/status/1098915697617448961
https://twitter.com/TonyHenson50/status/1098916320387715072
https://twitter.com/dan_weasel/status/1098946767515774977
https://twitter.com/HillVince/status/1098939942724603904
https://twitter.com/edwardrkerr/status/1098962367197732869
Great to see Jack Willis back involved! What a talented player! https://t.co/LXW7aP8xbR
— Ethan (@Ethanwilliams29) February 22, 2019
From England’s perspective, this is great news as well. Many fans were quick to suggest that Willis has time to fight for a World Cup place at the end of the year. He was undoubtedly a contender to start for England in South Africa, and many will hope he will resume where he left off.
England have lacked an out-and-out seven for years, and many fans and pundits touted Willis to be the man to fill that shirt. He is quick around the field and superb over the ball, which is what Jones will want. However, in his absence, both Sam Underhill and Tom Curry have performed imperiously for England; Underhill in the Autumn, Curry this Six Nations.
That makes Willis’ job that much harder, but some fans believe that the Wasp is better than the Sale or Bath man.
Nonetheless, Willis will add more competition for and England and Wasps shirt, which will only help, and the fans seem excited to see him return.
This is what the England and Wasps fans had to say:
https://twitter.com/dan_weasel/status/1098947120915206144
https://twitter.com/georgeheminway/status/1098927394302365696
https://twitter.com/mattwalters28/status/1098930455838105600
https://twitter.com/MartinXRugby/status/1098917748401467397
https://twitter.com/troothspitta/status/998870626763984896
Comments on RugbyPass
Good luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
37 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
37 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
37 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
37 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
37 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to comments