This remarkably striking Saracens triumph came with a hint of comedy – 50mph winds can make any athlete appear awkward – and a blunt reminder of the absurdity surrounding Tom Willis’s persistent exclusion from England. The No 8 delivered a commanding performance, showcasing exactly what can be accomplished by a back-row forward capable of powering […]
This remarkably striking Saracens triumph came with a hint of comedy – 50mph winds can make any athlete appear awkward – and a blunt reminder of the absurdity surrounding Tom Willis’s persistent exclusion from England.
The No 8 delivered a commanding performance, showcasing exactly what can be accomplished by a back-row forward capable of powering over the gainline. That it took place against South African challengers too – although not of the quality of the starting Springboks – should not escape the attention of Steve Borthwick.
It was Willis’s try in the second half that secured Saracens’ win, propelling the three-time champions into action in the Champions Cup and offering their fans yet another one of those resilient displays they used to showcase in this tournament not long ago. For a select few England internationals, there appeared to be an added thrill in getting the upper hand over Springbok veteran Willie le Roux.
Maro Itoje was at his disruptive finest, Jamie George energized from the outset, but it was Willis – whose only cap for England occurred in the summer of 2023 during a World Cup warm-up match – who stood out the most.
“Tom has played exceptionally well all year and I know that Steve Borthwick was eager to see him play at a higher level, and that’s a formidable pack we were up against, filled with Springboks, and Tom still distinguished himself,” remarked Saracens’ director of rugby, Mark McCall. “Hopefully they’ll pay attention.”
It was also an ideal way for Saracens to react to last week’s unexpected loss against Newcastle, and in terrible weather, facing formidable rivals, the conditions were perfectly primed for them. The Bulls head coach, Jake White, described the “unbelievable conditions” and acknowledged the importance of the toss – won by Saracens who opted to face the wind in the first half. “I doubt some of those Saracens players have played in such conditions before,” stated White. “We lost the toss. It felt a bit like cricket; we didn’t want to bat last on a pitch that was going to turn.”
The visiting team was missing several Springboks forwards but still fielded a formidable pack, featuring a massive back-row and a 6ft 5in loosehead prop. Consequently, Saracens faced a tough challenge, but playing directly against the biting wind, McCall’s squad found themselves entrenched in their own 22. That they withstood the onslaught, heading to halftime with an 8-5 lead, had McCall praising their effort. “It reminded me of the good old days, just watching us charge off the line and take down opponents.”
On the rare occasions they managed to clear their lines, Fergus Burke struggled to gain ground with his kicks, and when Sebastian de Klerk capped off the opening try in the right corner for the Bulls following a delightful pass from Le Roux, one couldn’t help but wonder how serious the deficit might be at halftime. To Saracens’ credit, however, they regrouped.
Burke missed an easy kick – hammering his attempt against the right post – before Saracens, emboldened, passed on kickable penalties and equalized at 5-5 when the powerful Wales front-rower Rhys Carré powered through. Burke attempted another kick but Storm Darragh interfered, disrupting play whenever either side attempted to kick the ball.
The Bulls intensified pressure at the scrum, yet a turnover by Willis revealed that he retained much of the form that made his omission from England’s autumn squad so puzzling. Burke had another chance from the tee soon after, this time finding success.
With the wind in their favor and a two-man advantage after Jannes Kirsten received a yellow card for a high tackle on De Klerk, Saracens gained momentum in the second half and increased their lead with George scoring from a lineout drive. It felt like the crucial score, and then Willis notched a try that matched his performance from close range, with Ben Earl adding a fourth to secure the bonus point.
