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Wasps' message for Eddie Jones about 'born-winner' Jack Willis

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Wasps boss Lee Blackett is urging England boss Eddie Jones to take the born-winner Jack Willis on the three-Test July tour of Australia following the back rower’s successful return from serious injury. Willis was out for 53 weeks after injuring his leg playing for England against Italy in February 2021 but has helped Wasps into the last eight of the European Challenge Cup where they face Edinburgh.

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His club have put together a seven-game unbeaten home run which they now hope to extend when they take on Worcester on Saturday in the Gallagher Premiership. 

During that time, Blackett has seen Willis regain the fitness he needs to be effective in both attack and defence in his six comeback games so far and the head coach reckons the summer tour would be a perfect way for his player to prove he is ready for the step up to Test rugby again. 

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Blackett said: “It is great to have Jack back after his horrific injury and I’m happy with a lot of aspects of his game and he is going to get better. He has got to be in Eddie Jones’ mind for the summer tour and his carries have been really good in attack.

“He used to focus on his jackal and it was the biggest thing he worked on but defensively he has worked really hard on his tackle technique and the jackal is just Jack because instinctively he is one of the best. 

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“I’m really pleased with the way he has returned and how fast he has come back and by the summer he will be putting real pressure to be on the tour with England. Jack is just a competitor and that is the No1 thing with him and I cannot imagine what the family garden was like when he was growing up with his brother (Tom). You see that edge and he is a born-winner and just wants desperately to win. You know when you have someone like that when you put them on the rugby field the desire to win will take over.

“Jack has always been quite opinionated and is a big leader for us and has a role within the club. I know I’m always going to get the truth and he is straight to the point. His desire to win means he is very driven and I love that character in him. He is really passionate about the club and being successful and that is any coach’s dream.”

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S
SK 1 hour ago
What is the future of rugby in 2025?

Set pieces are important and the way teams use them is a great indication of how they play the game. No team is showcasing their revolution more than the Springboks. This year they have mauled less and primarily in the attacking third. Otherwise they have tended to set like they are going to maul and then play around the corner or shove the ball out the back. They arent also hitting the crash ball carrier constantly but instead they are choosing to use their width or a big carrying forward in wider areas. While their maul is varied the scrum is still a blunt instrument winning penalties before the backs have a go. Some teams have chosen to blunt their set piece game for more control. The All Blacks are kicking more penalties and are using their powerful scrum as an attacking tool choosing that set piece as an attacking weapon. Their willingness to maul more and in different positions is also becoming more prominent. The French continue to play conservative rugby off the set piece using their big bruisers frequently. The set piece is used differently by different teams. Different teams play different ways and can be successful regardless. They can win games with little territory and possession or smash teams with plenty of both. The game of rugby is for all types and sizes and thats true in the modern era. I hope that administrators keep it that way and dont go further towards a Rugby League style situation. Some administrators are of the opinion that rugby is too slow and needs to be sped up. Why not rather empower teams to choose how they want to play and create a framework that favours neither size nor agility. That favours neither slow tempo play or rock n roll rugby. Create a game that favour both and challenge teams to execute their plans. If World Rugby can create a game like that then it will be the ultimate winner.

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J
JW 6 hours ago
'Let's not sugarcoat it': Former All Black's urgent call to protect eligibility rules

Yep, no one knows what will happen. Thing is I think (this is me arguing a point here not a random debate with this one) they're better off trialing it now in a controlled environment than waiting to open it up in a knee jerk style reaction to a crumbling organtization and team. They can always stop it again.


The principle idea is that why would players leave just because the door is ajar?


BBBR decides to go but is not good enough to retain the jersey after doing it. NZ no longer need to do what I suggest by paying him to get back upto speed. That is solely a concept of a body that needs to do what I call pick and stick wth players. NZR can't hold onto everyone so they have to choose their BBBRs and if that player comes back from a sabbatical under par it's a priority to get him upto speed as fast as possible because half of his competition has been let go overseas because they can't hold onto them all. Changing eligibility removes that dilemma, if a BBBR isn't playing well you can be assured that someone else is (well the idea is that you can be more assured than if you only selected from domestic players).


So if someone decides they want to go overseas, they better do it with an org than is going to help improve them, otherwise theyre still basically as ineligible as if they would have been scorning a NZ Super side that would have given them the best chance to be an All Black.

147 Go to comments
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LONG READ What is the future of rugby in 2025? What is the future of rugby in 2025?
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