Why Saracens could be giving England boss Steve Borthwick a headache

Saracens Director of Rugby Mark McCall has backed both Tom Willis and Ben Earl to feature together for England
©PA

Saracens Director of Rugby Mark McCall indicated that both Tom Willis and Ben Earl can feature in England’s back row in the upcoming Six Nations.

As Sarries prepare to face Munster in the Investec Champions Cup on Saturday, McCall, in particular, continued to praise Willis off the back of yet another impressive performance against Bristol Bears.

The 25-year-old has been one of the standout players for Saracens this term, leading to further calls for the No.8 to be named in Steve Borthwick’s plans.

“I think there was a big change in how he [Willis] arrived this pre-season,” McCall said.

“He’d obviously done a lot of work beforehand. It's the fittest I've ever seen him and we can see that with his overall contributions in matches. His numbers, in terms of involvements, are higher than ever.

“The way he took his try [Willis scored twice in Saracens’ 35-26 victory over Bristol last Saturday] showed his athleticism which people aren't often aware of and he just has a real confidence in the way he’s playing.”

However, despite Willis’ excellent form this term, he wasn’t included in Borthwick’s Autumn Nations Series squad with Saracens teammate Ben Earl who plays at openside at club level - starting in the eight shirt for England.

“I think they can both play for England,” McCall added. “They do it every week here, but there’s phenomenal competition in the England back row, especially in the seven position with the Curry brothers and Sam Underhill.

“But you’ve got Ben [Earl] who is playing really well for England at number eight, and Tom is playing well for us in that position so Steve’s got some interesting choices and decisions to make.”

It remains to be seen whether Willis will gain Six Nations recognition - with England beginning the competition against Ireland in Dublin next month - but for now, the focus is on Saracens who are currently in a strong position in the Investec Champions Cup.

With two wins under their belt from the opening rounds against the Bulls at home and Stade Français away, it leaves McCall’s troops in a decent position to potentially top Pool 3 and secure a home tie in the Round of 16.

Whilst their opponents on Saturday afternoon might be struggling domestically [Munster sit 11th in the United Rugby Championsp], fellow Irishman McCall isn’t underestimating the clash away at the once-European giants.

“If you think Munster at home are vulnerable, I think you're probably pretty stupid,” McCall joked.

“People forget or have short memories. They won the URC two years ago. If something's going to bring them back to life, it's going to be a European game at 5:30pm on a Saturday night at Thomond Park.

“We've been to Thomond Park a couple of times since I've been at Saracens, but we haven't won there. I know how tough a place it is to go to. I've been there plenty of times myself as a player and then as a coach and haven’t been too successful, but it’s a great place to go.

“Some of our players who have played there before have talked a little bit this week to the ones who haven't been there before about what to expect.”

Despite McCall stressing the quality of Munster, the Sarries boss isn’t putting too much pressure on this block of Champions Cup fixtures, which also includes a home meeting with Castres next weekend.

“Those last three Premiership matches that we were involved in [vs Bristol, Bath and Northampton Saints], we knew that we had to win a couple of them, and there's a little bit of pressure involved in that. 

“But Europe this year, for some reason, just feels like a bit of a release. I think the players showed that in the two games we’ve played so far.

“We've got everything to gain, really, at Thomand Park on Saturday night and the fixture against Castres next week. We know that our destiny is still in our own hands in terms of getting that home last 16 game.

“I want the players just to enjoy it and not play within themselves because of the atmosphere. I think those are the occasions you want to just go and play with a little bit of freedom like they have been doing over the last three or four weeks. 

“To be honest, sometimes, at an away ground like that, the atmosphere can make you feel that the game is going in a different way than it actually is and you’ve just got to see things for what they are. 

“That's where the team sort of supporting each other comes into it and understanding what's actually happening in the match, not what your mind is telling you, because the crowd are a bit noisier.”

Domestically, Saracens sit third in the Premiership standings after key home victories over Northampton and Bristol, and McCall was particularly impressed with his side’s display against the latter.

He added: “It was important for the group in last weekend's game to come off the back of a result like we had the week before against Bath [where Sarries were thumped 68-10 at The Rec]. You're never quite sure how the team is going to react, especially when it's a newer group.”

As McCall highlighted, it has had the feeling of a ‘new group’ at Saracens this term despite a core of senior experienced players remaining at the club such as England captain Jamie George and club captain Maro Itoje. 

Over the summer, Saracens had some significant departures with the likes of the Vunipola brothers and, of course, Owen Farrell moving on, but McCall has once again shown faith in the club’s younger players with emerging talents such as Angus Hall, Nathan Michelow and Olamide Sodeke all stepping up for an evolving Saracens outfit.

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“I'm really, really impressed with those guys. They seem to just be getting younger! In the past, no one ever seemed to be ready straight out of school. Even the likes of Maro and those kinds of guys, they were second year out of school when they got their first opportunities.

“But somebody like Angus is good to go in lots of ways, and we had Olamide playing as a tight five forward just last weekend.

“Our pathways are in a really good place at the moment. Mike Hynard, our academy manager, has been here for a long time, and he's done a great job. 

“We've got some outstanding coaches in the system, Duncan Taylor and Sean Maitland now involved in the pathway, and two absolutely brilliant players to the club, but two great people. 

“I can see that the pathway is getting stronger and stronger, and with the salary gap being as it is, it's becoming more important for all Premiership teams.”