Tom Willis evades a tackle in a superb, two-try performance – PA/Adam Davy
Cold nights in early January call for steely resolve and Tom Willis inspired resurgent Saracens to a vital victory over Bristol Bears, powerfully reinforcing his international credentials in the process.
The burly No 8 would have been foremost in Steve Borthwick’s thoughts for the Six Nations before this entertaining game, but has surely smashed down the England door with what was arguably the most complete performance of an already impressive campaign.
Bristol showed admirable perseverance from 27-7 down to snatch a bonus point, which kept them second in the Premiership. They could not continue a run of 10 away triumphs in the league, yet would have had two consolation points had Harry Byrne’s last-gasp conversion not faded wide.
Two first-half tries headlined an extraordinary Willis display. For the first, he hurdled a breakdown and dragged several would-be tacklers with him. The second was stunning. Following an interception from Maro Itoje, who pick-pocketed Ellis Genge inside the hosts’ 22 and sold a wicked dummy, Willis stretched his legs on a surge up the Saracens left.
He bypassed Noah Heward, the Bristol wing, and rounded opposite number Viliame Mata. Rich Lane covered across but was never likely to halt the runaway train. It was a reminder that Willis is a mobile athlete as well as a robust operator in tight spaces. The first period had already underlined his resourcefulness.
While Itoje was serving 10 minutes in the sin bin, collared for three penalty offences within the same Bristol attack, Willis moved to lock. From there, he helped force a scrum penalty – after Genge had clocked the move and joked about Willis lending his 125kg to “the row” – and even rose at the front of the line-out in Itoje’s absence. Jamie George, celebrating a 300th game for Saracens to go with 100 more Tests for England and the British and Irish Lions combined, would have been grateful.
In a tactical wrinkle that Borthwick will have noted, Ben Earl and Willis alternated duties at the base of scrums. The former possesses brisk acceleration, the latter a fearful punch. England could use that strategic variation over the weeks ahead. They must hit the ground running against Ireland in Dublin on Feb 1.
Mark McCall and Pat Lam agreed that Willis’s second try was the turning point and that the 25-year-old was outstanding. “I can’t remember a match this year where he hasn’t been outstanding,” McCall said of Willis, who missed Saracens’ 68-10 defeat in Bath. “He just needs to keep doing what he’s doing.
“He leads by example. He leads by getting over the gain-line, breaking tackles and making tackles. He’s a superb character; very curious. He wants to play for England and wants to do anything to make that happen.”
These sides both suffered unedifying losses the previous weekend, Bristol dealt a doughnut in a 38-0 loss to Sale Sharks and Saracens even more roundly humiliated at the Rec.
Injuries to AJ MacGinty and Max Malins had sent Lam on an emergency recruitment spree. The addition of Byrne, the four-cap Ireland fly-half loaned in from Leinster, could yet prove vital in maintaining impetus. In the event, Lam felt the need to introduce Byrne from the bench just minutes into the second half because Bears were sinking.
After Willis pumped his knees to open the scoring, Fergus Burke glided through behind George’s decoy run to extend Saracens’ advantage. Bristol responded well, Harry Randall selling a dummy and sniping. Ironically, the Itoje yellow card narrowed Saracens’ focus. Alex Lozowski, assured in all areas, made it his mission to harry Sam Worsley. Elliot Daly’s long-range penalty ensured that Saracens won the sin-bin period 3-0.
Itoje’s interception, followed by the Willis run, represented a sucker-punch that put McCall’s men 22-7 in front at the break. Shortly after the resumption, as if to exhibit his softer skills, Willis hooked an offload that brought about the bonus-point try. Harry Wilson linked with Ivan van Zyl, who released Lucio Cinti.
Harry Thacker and Kalaveti Ravouvou injected verve for Bristol, who threatened until the death. Ravouvou is among the league’s most dangerous runners and scored from Randall’s quick tap. That made it 27-14, and with the Bears you never know. But talisman Willis steadied the ship. He man-handled Lane, marching the Bristol full-back a full 10 metres backwards to throaty cheers.
That won a turnover, and Lozowski converted a scrum penalty. Thacker was swept over by another drive, though, and while Burke bagged his own second for Saracens, Jake Heenan shot through a maul to earn Bears a point. Willis, however, ensured Saracens were the happiest. His excellence would have warmed Borthwick’s evening as well.
07:24 PM GMT
Full-time: Saracens 35 Bristol Bears 26
That’ll do it at StoneX Stadium. A thoroughly entertaining 80 minutes but he hosts, behind a power-packed display from Tom Willis, ultimately had too much for Bristol.
07:21 PM GMT
TRY, Bristol Bears!
Bonus for the Bears! Jake Heenan bursts through another drive to score. The conversion… is just wide! Bristol get one point out of this game, which is just reward for their perseverence.
07:19 PM GMT
79 mins: Saracens 35 Bristol Bears 21
Bears are going to get one last shot at a bonus point after a Fitz Harding turnover. They could get two bonus points with a conversion. They’re in the corner.
Meanwhile, Jamie George comes off to a standing ovation.
07:18 PM GMT
TRY, Saracens!
That is definitely that. The scrum is solid, Segun has a scamper on the right and Burke picks from the ruck, diving over for his second. Lozowski cannot convert.
Willis is replaced and is promptly named as player of the match. Perhaps the easiest call we will have all season. An extraordinary performance.
07:16 PM GMT
77 mins: Saracens 30 Bristol Bears 21
Bristol spread the ball inside their own 22 from coast to coast but Saracens do not break. Indeed, they hold firm and force a knock on from Janse van Rensburg
07:13 PM GMT
TRY, Bristol Bears!
The maul has enough to bag Bristol’s third try! Game on. Again. Byrne converts to make it 30-21.
07:12 PM GMT
73 mins: Saracens 30 Bristol Bears 14
Ravouvou really is a weapon. His charge earns a penalty and Bristol go to the corner again.
07:10 PM GMT
PENALTY, Saracens!
Easy kick for Lozowski. Saracens lead 30-14 and that… will surely be that. I think.
07:08 PM GMT
69 mins: Saracens 27 Bristol Bears 14
Saracens splinter Bristol, who have just replaced Genge, for the scrum penalty. They will take the points.
07:08 PM GMT
68 mins: Saracens 27 Bristol Bears 14
Tom Willis. Wow. He chases a high kick and essentially picks up Rich Lane, the Bristol full-back, and marches his man back about 10 metres. There’s a spill and Saracens will have a put-in.
07:06 PM GMT
66 mins: Saracens 27 Bristol Bears 14
Byrne swings a pass that Janse van Rensburg cannot gather and Saracens steam forward with Segun gathering the loose ball. Lozowski’s kick ahead turns Bristol and brings about a goal-line drop-out.
07:04 PM GMT
66 mins: Saracens 27 Bristol Bears 14
Bristol’s line-out is overthrown. Let-off for Saracens, because this one is in the balance.
07:03 PM GMT
65 mins: Saracens 27 Bristol Bears 14
Janse van Resnburg and Ravouvou combine from the restart and Saracens are penalised. Bristol are in the Saracens 22 with another penalty advantage.
07:01 PM GMT
TRY, Bristol Bears!
Harry Thacker has added energy from the bench for Bristol. He is busy on the ball and Randall taps a penalty. Eventually the ball makes its way to Kalaveti Ravouvou, who scores. Harry Byrne lands a brilliant conversion and… have we a twist in the tail here?!
06:54 PM GMT
56 mins: Saracens 27 Bristol Bears 7
Bristol just cannot get their hands on the ball at all. Earl is beginning to find a bit more space.
Huge hit from Ellis Genge on Juan Martín González. He has not stopped trying.
06:53 PM GMT
55 mins: Saracens 22 Bristol Bears 7
More power from Saracens. Itoje has taken control of this one. Oop. Quite an interesting one.
Carley brings together Itoje and Jamie George, points at George and says to Itoje: “If this player continues, I am going to send him off”.
06:48 PM GMT
52 mins: Saracens 22 Bristol Bears 7
Saracens pour forward, with Lozowski prominent, but Rich Lane scrambles well and Bristol eke out another scrum penalty.
06:44 PM GMT
TRY, Saracens!
That’s the bonus point and it is another sweet try. Surely that seals it. Willis steps through the breakdown again and hooks an offload to Harry Wilson, who flicks a second offload in turn to Van Zyl. Cinti is in support and has a clear run to the line. Lozowski misses the conversion but it’s a long way back from 27-7 behind now for Bristol.
06:43 PM GMT
46 mins: Saracens 22 Bristol Bears 7
Saracens win a scrum penalty and maul, with Rhys Carre steaming into contact. The ball is moved wide and Daly grubbers but it dribbles into the dead-ball area and Bristol have the drop-out.
06:40 PM GMT
“We haven’t been accurate enough”
Pat Lam is giving an interview to TNT Sports and has stressed the importance of looking after the ball.
06:40 PM GMT
44 mins: Saracens 22 Bristol Bears 7
Bristol attempting to run out of their own half… Saracens are enjoying that. They’re swarming.
Pat Lam has hooked Sam Worsley. Harry Byrne is on for a Bristol debut.
06:36 PM GMT
Back underway here
Bristol kick off and Daly returns the favour immediately, booming a clearance back towards halfway.
06:27 PM GMT
Match action
It’s a special second from Willis:
06:21 PM GMT
TRY, Saracens!
A sucker-punch from Saracens and another phenomenal finish from Tom Willis.
Saracens support Itoje well and the ball is moved to Willis on the right touchline. He is still on the halfway line, but bypasses Noah Heward and Viliame Mata before powering over Rich Lane to dot down. Lozowski cannot convert, but Saracens are 22-7 up and in charge of this one.
06:19 PM GMT
38 mins: Saracens 17 Bristol Bears 7
Randall is fizzing around here but Saracens have repelled Bristol with some upright tackling… and Itoje bags the interception! He picks the pocket of Genge and sprints some 70 metres, selling a dummy along the way!
06:17 PM GMT
37 mins: Saracens 17 Bristol Bears 7
“Yes, Gengey!” shout the Bristol pack as Carley awards a penalty. The visitors will have a chance to cut the deficit.
06:16 PM GMT
Match action
Jamie Hodgson, the Bristol lock, made way earlier in the first half. He was nursing what looked like a shoulder or an arm injury and looked distraught.
PA
06:14 PM GMT
36 mins: Saracens 17 Bristol Bears 7
Another delay. Jamie George is changing his boot.
06:13 PM GMT
36 mins: Saracens 17 Bristol Bears 7
Lozowski rushes Worsley again and almost nabs an interception. He knocks on, though. It’ll be a Bristol scrum and Itoje is back from the bin.
06:12 PM GMT
Match action
Here’s Fergus Burke’s try from a while earlier:
06:11 PM GMT
PENALTY, Saracens!
The full-back splits the posts from around 45 metres against the breeze. That’s 17-7 to Saracens.
06:10 PM GMT
32 mins: Saracens 14 Bristol Bears 7
More spoiling from Saracens. Riccioni pounces over Oghre. Daly is calling for the tee…
06:09 PM GMT
30 mins: Saracens 14 Bristol Bears 7
Classic Saracens, there. They harry Bristol around the halfway line. Jamie George and Nick Tompkins make a mess of the breakdown and Carley blows for a penalty.
Lozowski misses, though, hitting the left-hand post, and Bristol run it out through Oghre. It’s a cold night, but this is fun.
06:07 PM GMT
29 mins: Saracens 14 Bristol Bears 7
Saracens escape again! Carley spots an obstruction as the Bristol maul splinters.
Saracens hit touch and Willis rises to gather the line-out.
06:06 PM GMT
28 mins: Saracens 14 Bristol Bears 7
Saracens overthrow the line-out in the absense of Itoje. Oghre charges into the 22 and there is another Bristol penalty.
06:05 PM GMT
26 mins: Saracens 14 Bristol Bears 7
Big moment, perhaps. Bristol run a tap move and Ben Earl hurries through the bodies to tackle Garbiel Oghre. Saracens force a spill a few phases later and are then awarded a scrum penalty.
“Willis in the row. All 125 kegs,” Genge says before the set piece. As a make-shift lock, Willis helps win the penalty.
06:03 PM GMT
YELLOW CARD!
Bristol’s maul rumbles close and Maro Itoje sees yellow! Carley explains that Itoje was offside at the inital line-out, came in at the side of the resulting maul and then dived off his feet to halt Bristol. It’s a triple whammy, and a sin-binning.
06:00 PM GMT
25 mins: Saracens 14 Bristol Bears 7
Resilient stuff from Bristol. Janse van Rensburg slides another shrewd kick into the 22 and Burke has to surrender a close-range line-out.
05:58 PM GMT
23 mins: Saracens 14 Bristol Bears 7
Oghre has a dip at the breakdown inside Saracens territory but he is penalised by Carley. Oh wow. That’s a horrible slice. Bristol have the ball and will get into their phase attack.
05:56 PM GMT
TRY, Bristol Bears!
It’s not enough, though. After several shunts, a snipe from Randall gets Bears over. The scrum-half dummied and slipped between a couple of fringe defenders. Worsley converts.
05:54 PM GMT
20 mins: Saracens 14 Bristol Bears 0
Seriously strong defence around the ruck from Maro Itoje and the Saracens forwards…
05:53 PM GMT
19 mins: Saracens 14 Bristol Bears 0
Bristol are not lying down here. Viliame Mata carries strongly and helps his team pick up a breakdown penalty. Bears are in the corner and will maul…
05:51 PM GMT
TRY, Saracens!
The hosts’ attack is purring and Bristol are scrambling for answers. Juan Martín González stretches his legs on the left, with Rhys Carre among the heavy carriers, before Burke ghosts around Nick Tompkins and receives a pull-back behind Jamie George.
Looking very comfortable on the ball, Burke glides straight through. Classy finish. And the conversion is easy for Lozowski. It’s 14-0.
05:49 PM GMT
Match action
Here’s that Tom Willis try. Some finish:
05:48 PM GMT
14 mins: Saracens 7 Bristol Bears 0
Another Saracens attack, another swivel pass from Lozowski to a looping Burke. Cinti gets another run from another Daly pass and Bristol have to scramble to force the Pumas wing into touch.
05:46 PM GMT
13 mins: Saracens 7 Bristol Bears 0
Messy line-out from Saracens, with Steven Luatua up to steal, but they win the ball back soon enough after Randall drops a high ball.
05:45 PM GMT
11 mins: Saracens 7 Bristol Bears 0
Lozowski grubbers as Saracens move the ball away from the scrum and Bristol counter with Noah Heward making ground. Daly mucks in at the breakdown, though. His jackal earns a penalty.
05:43 PM GMT
8 mins: Saracens 7 Bristol Bears 0
The visitors attempt to launch Genge in midfield but the prop’s tip-pass is fumbled.
05:42 PM GMT
TRY, Saracens!
Clinical stuff from the hosts. Burke loops Lozowski and links with Daly, who sends Lucio Cinti down the outside. Saracens earn a penalty advantage and Tom Willis picks at the base of a ruck, lifts his knee high as he bounds over the breakdown and ploughs powerfully through three tackles to score.
Lozowski adds the extras and Saracens are 7-0 up.
05:40 PM GMT
6 mins: Saracens 0 Bristol Bears 0
Interesting little wrinkle there from the Saracens scrum. Tom Willis starts on the blindside and Ben Earl takes it away from the base.
05:37 PM GMT
5 mins: Saracens 0 Bristol Bears 0
Bit of a pause here ahead of the first scrum as we sort out the match clock. It’s stopped on us.
Alex Lozowski is bolting up out of the defensive line early on. He’s hunting Sam Worsley, no doubt.
05:37 PM GMT
5 mins: Saracens 0 Bristol Bears 0
Burke snakes a grubber up the middle and Randall is alive to it but the ball is spilled by Bristol as they attempt to move it on the counter.
05:35 PM GMT
4 mins: Saracens 0 Bristol Bears 0
Bristol go off the top and into midfield from a line-out and Janse van Rensburg punches a hole. The Bears go wide later but Saracens deal with it well and Rotimi Segun wins a jackal turnover close to the touchline.
05:34 PM GMT
2 mins: Saracens 0 Bristol Bears 0
Elliot Daly has a dart following a Harry Randall box-kick and Ivan van Zyl goes to the air a couple of phases later. Both teams using the boot a fair amount and Bristol win the territorial tussle after a clever grubber from Benhard Janse van Rensburg.
05:32 PM GMT
1 min: Saracens 0 Bristol Bears 0
We’re off. Fergus Burke goes high, James Dun catches it and Bristol clear.
05:29 PM GMT
Players out
Bristol first, followed by Saracens. The latter are led out by triple centurion Jamie George. And we have some fireworks, too. Lovely touch. Here we go.
05:29 PM GMT
Road warriors
Bristol’s 54-24 victory over Leicester Tigers in round eight was their TENTH consecutive away win in the Premiership. Saracens will be out to snap that (extraordinary) streak tonight.
rugby
05:21 PM GMT
Man in the middle
Matthew Carley is taking charge this evening.
05:20 PM GMT
Pep talk
Here’s Ellis Genge outlining some messages during the Bristol warm-up. He is not captain in name, but is certainly an influential figurehead for the Bears.
genge
05:17 PM GMT
Fresh
I am out of the toasty media room and in the press box, now. It’s pretty chilly, and it always seems to be quite breezy at this ground.
The players are just coming in from the warm-ups and will be back out soon enough. About 12 minutes until kick-off.
05:14 PM GMT
Six Nations subplots
There is an England alignment camp early next week and you would expect for Jamie George, Maro Itoje and Ben Earl – at least – to attend that from the Saracens players on show. It feels like Tom Willis, who missed his side’s thrashing in Bath, can make another statement.
As for Bristol, Ellis Genge and Harry Randall will be in the mix. I am intrigued by Gabriel Oghre as well. He is an excellent player.
05:06 PM GMT
Final scores elsewhere around the Premiership
Leicester Tigers have pulled away to beat Exeter Chiefs 28-15, registering a bonus point in the process, and Gloucester dismissed Sale Sharks to triumph 36-20. That is a great result for George Skivington’s men.
05:04 PM GMT
Half an hour until kick-off
Almost there. Get your predictions in below the line. I’m backing a Saracens win, despite Bristol’s ridiculously good form on the road.
05:01 PM GMT
Team news
This is how the sides are shaping up.
Saracens: E Daly; R Segun, A Lozowski, N Tompkins, L Cinti; F Burke, I van Zyl; R Carre, J George, M Riccioni, M Itoje (captain), H Wilson, J Martin Gonzalez, B Earl, T Willis
Replacements: K Pifileti, P Brantingham, A Clarey, O Sodeke, N Michelow, G Simpson, O Hartley, A Hall
Bristol Bears: R Lane; J Bates, B Janse van Rensburg, J Williams, N Heward: S Worsley, H Randall: E Genge, G Oghre, G Kloska, J Dun, J Hodgson, S Luatua, F Harding (captain), V Mata
Replacements: H Thacker, Y Thomas, J Halliwell, S Barker, J Heenan, K Marmion, H Byrne, K Ravouvou
04:56 PM GMT
Speaking of Harry Byrne
Here he is, with Bristol skipper Fitz Harding.
Byrne is on the bench, by the way. Full team news next.
04:54 PM GMT
A signing to save the season?
I am fascinated by Bristol’s recruitment of Harry Byrne as a short-term injury cover for AJ MacGinty. It’s an addition that makes sense on several levels.
First off, MacGinty is hugely influential for Bristol, who have also lost Max Malins for the season. Lam needs a quality operator to run the Bears attack. Byrne is itching for game-time, having been shunted down the pecking order in Dublin, and still has Ireland aspirations.
Lam explained on Friday that his recruitment department, headed up by Gethin Watts, was flooded with applications when MacGinty went down with a knee injury against Leicester Tigers. They opted for Byrne because Leinster have placed high value on attacking shape – something that Bristol also covet.
It is no exaggeration to say that the emergency coup could help Bristol sustain momentum towards the late stages of the Premiership, because they have done so well to put themselves in a strong position.
04:46 PM GMT
Introducing…
Olamide Sodeke, one ofg England Under-20’s world champions from last summer, is making a Premiership debut today. This piece takes a look at an exciting talent – as well as Kepu Tuipulotu of Bath.
Getty Images
04:42 PM GMT
Good afternoon
Hello and welcome to live text commentary of another appetising – and rather significant – Premiership match between Saracens and Bristol Bears from StoneX Stadium. A bit of a confession to begin… it is so cold that I am very much still in the shelter of the media room here. There are free pies, in my defence.
Interestingly enough, Saracens hooker Theo Dan was with us until a few moments ago. He seemed to be getting stuck into some economics coursework. Dan is bound to be part of England’s plans for the Six Nations but he is not playing for the hosts today. Jamie George is starting and will bring up a 300th appearance for Saracens, which is a formidable achievement.
“I never dreamt of being able to achieve all this,” explained George earlier this week. “I started rugby at Hertford RFC, a rugby club that has strong links with Saracens and from joining them at five years old I became a lifelong Sarries fan.
“From the second I joined the academy at 14 I don’t think I could have felt more loved and appreciated. I can’t wait to lead this side out for what should be a great opportunity to start the year the right way.”
Bristol Bears are handing out a very interesting debut this afternoon, with Harry Byrne, their loan signing from Leinster, on a strong bench alongside Kalaveti Ravouvou. Ellis Genge is returning, too, having suffered a back spasm just over a week ago.
Elsewhere around the grounds, by the way, Exeter Chiefs and Leicester Tigers are going to the wire and Gloucester are 29-20 up against Sale Sharks. This really is a topsy-turvy league. No doubt there are more thrills and spills in store later on. Saracens and Bristol, who began the weekend in fourth and second place respectively, are looking to rebound from thrashings last time out. Who will regather impetus? Stay with us to find out.
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The post ‘Outstanding’ Tom Willis a must-pick for England after Saracens bounce back to beat Bristol first appeared on Rugby 247.
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Author : rugby-247
Publish date : 2025-01-05 00:25:42
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