Wasps fans welcome back 6'3, 110kg unit they see as potential England World Cup bolter

Wasps and England fans have taken to Twitter to welcome Jack Willis back to the matchday squad after nine months out. The 22-year-old flanker is one the bench for the visit from Sale to the Ricoh Arena on Saturday.

He had been selected for England’s tour to South Africa at the end of last season before rupturing his ACL against Saracens in the Premiership semi-final.

It was a major setback for a player that looked destined to challenge for an England shirt under Eddie Jones.

Many Wasps fans are clearly very excited to see the flanker return, particularly as Wasps have not been at their best at times this season.

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With a number of players on international duty as well this weekend, this is a boost that Dai Young and the fans needed. This is what they had to say:

https://twitter.com/Vincent_Wasps/status/1098915697617448961
https://twitter.com/TonyHenson50/status/1098916320387715072
https://twitter.com/dan_weasel/status/1098946767515774977
https://twitter.com/HillVince/status/1098939942724603904
https://twitter.com/edwardrkerr/status/1098962367197732869

Great to see Jack Willis back involved! What a talented player! https://t.co/LXW7aP8xbR

— Ethan (@Ethanwilliams29) February 22, 2019

From England’s perspective, this is great news as well. Many fans were quick to suggest that Willis has time to fight for a World Cup place at the end of the year. He was undoubtedly a contender to start for England in South Africa, and many will hope he will resume where he left off.

England have lacked an out-and-out seven for years, and many fans and pundits touted Willis to be the man to fill that shirt. He is quick around the field and superb over the ball, which is what Jones will want. However, in his absence, both Sam Underhill and Tom Curry have performed imperiously for England; Underhill in the Autumn, Curry this Six Nations.

That makes Willis’ job that much harder, but some fans believe that the Wasp is better than the Sale or Bath man.

Nonetheless, Willis will add more competition for and England and Wasps shirt, which will only help, and the fans seem excited to see him return.

This is what the England and Wasps fans had to say:
https://twitter.com/dan_weasel/status/1098947120915206144
https://twitter.com/georgeheminway/status/1098927394302365696
https://twitter.com/mattwalters28/status/1098930455838105600
https://twitter.com/MartinXRugby/status/1098917748401467397
https://twitter.com/troothspitta/status/998870626763984896