Jack Willis has again left England’s training camp early and is set to answer a back-row crisis for Toulouse, giving Steve Borthwick a sizeable selection headache before his side host France on Saturday week.
Willis, who has impressed when starting England’s past two matches, against Italy and Wales, is expected to go straight back into action for Toulouse on Sunday night. When he was in the same position before the Six Nations he was effectively ruled out of contention to face Scotland.
The openside flanker has been available for England’s Brighton training camp for this first part of this week because of a unique arrangement between the Rugby Football Union and Toulouse. But with no Six Nations games this weekend he was due on Wednesday night to return to his club. He did not appear for Toulouse in the previous fallow week, but they have a key Top 14 game with Racing 92 with problems at back‑row with four injured players, François Cros unavailable because of France commitments and Rynhardt Elstadt suspended.
When Willis left England’s pre-tournament training camp early he appeared off the bench in Toulouse’s victory against Montpellier on the Sunday night. He returned to England camp the next day, but was unable to train until the Tuesday and was not considered for selection against Scotland. A repeat of that scenario may leave Borthwick feeling the need to turn to Ben Earl or Ben Curry. Willis’s absence would be a blow given how well he has played of late.
Alternatively, Borthwick may decide that Willis is sufficiently up to speed to play despite his expected late return to the squad. He would still face an anxious wait for the 26‑year‑old to come through Toulouse’s game unscathed. Marcus Smith has returned to play for Harlequins on Saturday and could yet appear against France, but Willis has one day fewer to recover and additional travel logistics.
Willis is eligible for England at present only because, after the demises of Wasps and Worcester, the RFU bent its rules on allowing players from those clubs who moved overseas to be eligible for selection and has struck a deal with Toulouse over his availability for training camps outside official Test weeks. It is a temporary compromise with Borthwick last week calling for the RFU to review its eligibility criteria in the future.
France, meanwhile, have problems of their own, particularly at tighthead prop with Uini Atonio and Mohamed Haouas banned for the trip to Twickenham. The latter was handed a four-week ban on Wednesday after his red card against Scotland.
Sipili Falatea has come off the bench in all three of their matches while Demba Bamba, Thomas Laclayat and Dorian Aldegheri are options available to Fabien Galthié.
The England loosehead Mako Vunipola insists England are in for a battle. “We know that whichever player they choose they’re going to do a job and the battle that’s coming our way as a forward pack,” he said. “We know it’s another step up from Wales to France.”
