Northern Edition
Select Edition
Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Tom Willis makes England statement as Saracens beat Bristol

By PA
Saracens v Bristol – Gallagher Premiership – StoneX Stadium

Tom Willis surged over for two tries to give England boss Steve Borthwick another compelling reminder that his Test debut is overdue as Saracens dispatched Bristol 35-26 at StoneX Stadium.

ADVERTISEMENT

Saracens bounced back from their record Gallagher Premiership defeat at Bath a week earlier by ending the Bears’ 10-match winning run on the road – with Willis at the forefront of their bonus-point victory.

Man of the match Willis demonstrated his power during both tries with the second, scored on the stroke of half-time, seeing him evade three tacklers in a devastating run down the right wing.

Video Spacer

Nick Mallett on Champions Cup difficulty | RPTV

Video Spacer

Nick Mallett on Champions Cup difficulty | RPTV

Former Stade Francais coach Nick Mallett on how difficult it is to win the double. Watch the full episode on RugbyPass TV

Watch now

It was a performance that will intensify the clamour for his selection at number eight for the Six Nations opener against Ireland on February 1, with the 25-year-old possessing the ball carrying clout currently missing from England’s back row.

A cathartic evening for Saracens following their 68-10 demolition at the Recreation Ground also produced tries for Fergus Burke, who crossed twice, and Lucio Cinti to give Jamie George the win he was seeking on his 300th appearance for the club.

Fixture
Gallagher Premiership
Saracens
35 - 26
Full-time
Bristol
All Stats and Data

The Bears, who were thrashed 38-0 by Sale a week ago, fought back in the final quarter but on this occasion they had left themselves with too much to do.

Once an issue with the stadium clock resetting to zero after a few minutes had been played was sorted out, Saracens set about constructing their first try.

ADVERTISEMENT

Cinto was kept out by a last-ditch tackle after being presented with a half-chance by sharp passing from Alex Lozowski and Elliot Daly, but then Willis arrived and his strength propelled the hosts across the line.

Saracens launched another raid made possible by the speed and handling of their backs and several phases later they were over again, with Nick Tompkins and George creating the gap for Burke to glide through.

Harry Randall hit back for Bristol from close range, his dummy deceiving the home defence, just as his side appeared to be running out of ideas.

Soon after, Saracens were once again being assailed in the same position of the field and they suffered a setback when Maro Itoje was shown a yellow card for three consecutive offences, the eighth time in 21 games he has been sent to the sin bin.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Bears continued to press only to concede consecutive penalties, letting the six-time Premiership champions off the hook.

Daly was successful from the tee from 50 metres out to nudge Saracens 10 points head – the only score while Itoje was in the sin bin.

And just as Bristol renewed their assault on the home whitewash, they were picked off by Itoje who galloped forward before play swung right where the marauding Willis touched down.

Willis then demonstrated his range of skills by bursting through two white shirts when surging through a breakdown and then offloading out of the tackle, with Cinti scoring to register the bonus point.

Kalaveti Ravouvou crossed in the 61st minute to give Bristol hope and the fightback continued when Harry Thacker finished a line-out maul, but Burke put the result beyond doubt before Jake Heenan struck late on.

Related

ADVERTISEMENT

KOKO Show | July 1st | The Lions are here and the KOKO crew are getting excited

Touchdown in Dublin, The Red Sea Returns & We Prepare to Face Argentina | Ep 2: The Ultimate Test

World Rugby U20 Championship 2025

South Africa v British & Irish Lions | 2009 | Second Test | The Vaults

Lions Share | Episode 1

England XV v France XV | Full Match Replay

"The Opportunity Of A Lifetime" | Wallabies All In: Episode 1

Are these the best ever Lions performances?

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

B
BleedRed&Black 32 minutes ago
Who is telling the truth about France's tour of New Zealand?

What you mean is that you have now put the hookers on the list, having edited them in after I pointed out their absence. Even then you missed out that Mauvaka is allegedly "eligible", when of course we all know that "eligible" means exactly what French rugby wants it to mean, and therefore a propaganda device designed to convince the credulous and protect the dishonest. I will leave you to make another edit.


It's nice to see what you and AlanP are finally admitting what is real, that France puts all its focus on its own domestic interests and gives Southern hemisphere rugby the leftovers. You finally admit that the way French Rugby is structured France's strongest squad, its 6N squad, will not play in the southern hemisphere. That is exactly what Bishop’s article is about, that the French rugby's claim that the leading French players have "played too much" to tour NZ is a fraud designed to explain away the fact this is purely a development tour for France, and therefore a betrayal of the spirit, if not the letter, of the international tours agreement. Someone really should let Bishop know his most extreme critics are finally admitting he is right. He will be very pleased.


It's worth emphasizing just how isolated France is in this. Every 6N team manages their players in a way that they allows them to tour the Southern Hemisphere with the strongest squad they have. Except France. Every 6N team, England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, even Italy, live up to the spirit as well as the letter of the tours agreement. Except France. Ireland have delivered massively over the three years, winning three tests and narrowly losing two in their five tests in NZ and SA. Those were genuinely great series. Even the England series in NZ last year was excellent, crude but close with the English pouring everything into getting a win. The contrast between the efforts made by Ireland and England as against France is extreme. France instead sits back in its splendid isolation, sends NZ its third best, and lies that it is the best it can do. You have to wonder what Blanco and Sella and Berbizier and Rives, the greats of French rugby, men who gave their guts for France, in NZ as much as anywhere, think of French rugby's contempt for NZ rugby. And of the barrage of lies that have accompanied it.

418 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING New captain and Pollock switches position in Lions team for Waratahs New captain and Pollock switches position in Lions team for Waratahs
Search