Swines are swirling above Twickenham, the cows have returned to their roots and hell is an icy sub-zero. Steve Borthwick has been given a free pass to pick one player based outside England. The consensus is that Jack Willis – Toulouse captain and two‑time Top 14 player of the season – would be the obvious choice.
The smart money, however, would be on Borthwick picking brother Tom in a flash. For clarity, this is not going to happen. It is not World Cup season without a cause celebre but the reality is that you, dear reader, have more chance of selection.
Still, the story of the younger Willis warrants re-examining. Firstly because his decision to head for France after receiving an enhanced contract was unprecedented. Secondly because for Bordeaux he is pulling up trees, forests and anything else in his way this season.
England’s No 8 depth is shallow and Willis is the type of player Borthwick would give his right arm for. After Bordeaux have begun their Champions Cup defence at Gloucester on Friday, chances are his left too. He won an aerial battle a couple weeks ago that I showed to the backs.
Tom just wanted that ball, he’s an unbelievable competitor more than anything else. The Top 14 is incredibly competitive, because of relegation, because of the JIFF rule [which limits the number of foreign players]. That adds its own pressure and it’s not for everybody.
We knew what we were getting, not just the player, he’s a fantastic human being.” Willis’s decision will not have been easy but by the time he informed Borthwick, shortly before the 2025 autumn internationals, his mind was made up despite having received the enhanced contract worth £150,000 a couple of months earlier. As someone who could offer ball-carrying heft, hard yards, Willis was a dead cert for the plane to Australia in 2027. Borthwick’s decision to leave him out immediately was equally difficult but he felt there was no choice with less than two years until the World Cup.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
