Tom Willis could be the answer to England's #8 riddle. Photo: Getty Images/David Rogers
Tom Willis looks to be facing the most important week of his playing career. It's only been seven days before Steve Borthwick names his 33-man World Cup squad and the 24-year-old can find the answer to England's No. 8 riddle.
Borthwick's extended training line-up of 40 — gathered at Pennyhill Park on Sunday night for the last time, with back row balance being one of the key selection areas yet to be completed, and options #8 being central to the decision.
The back three will also come under scrutiny as Harlequins striker Kadan Merly will be recalled to the squad on Sunday night as England prepare for the first of four World Cup warm-up matches against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday.
Two days later, Borthwick and his coaching team of Kevin Sinfield, Richard Wigglesworth, Tom Harrison and Tony Rokes will make the final decision.
The countdown to the World Championship battle may lack drama and a thrilling bout climax between Sam Burgess and Luther Burrell ahead of the 2015 World Cup when former England manager Stuart Lancaster played a domestic tryout the day before the 11 o'clock match. Selection meeting for the final formation of the composition.
Steve Borthwick's extended 40-man training squad reconvened at Pennyhill Park on Sunday evening for the last time. Photo: Getty Images/David Rogers
It is believed that Borthwick has already decided on 26 of his 33 players and, unlike Lancaster, has made the decision to finalize his selection at the earliest opportunity. No wonder. Lancaster's selection came at the end of a full four-year World Cup cycle. Borthwick has barely been on the job for seven months.
What he can risk by removing the competition for places after just one warm-up match, he will benefit from the intensive training of those players who go to France.
< p>Despite all the millions invested in this World Cup cycle, the decision to sack Eddie Jones last December means that Borthwick must do what no other England manager has done before: assemble a coaching team, put together a squad, formulate game plan, carefully… set up combinations and adapt conditioning from the spot in just nine games.
If England have any chance of reaching the semi-finals in France, which most fans will no doubt readily accept as a worthy comeback after just two wins in each of the last three Six Nation campaigns, it looks like Borthwick will build on strength, experience and a simple but clear game plan.
However, it's also clear that Borthwick will also have to roll the dice, as experience spread becomes alarmingly thin in some positions.
Which brings us back to Willis. Billy Vunipola was underrated in the Six Nations, but the manner in which the England back line was outplayed during the campaign saw the Saracen veteran become popular again. guaranteed. He hasn't played since April due to a knee injury that required minor surgery last month.
Billy Vunipola has not played since April with a knee injury that required minor surgery last month. Credit: Getty Images/David Rogers
The Wales game is likely too early for him to return to action, leaving Willis and Alex Dombrandt, who started No. 8 in the Six Nations, expected to face face on Saturday.< /p>
Dombrandt consistently showed the Harlequins line-breaking skills in wide channels, but to bolster England's strength, Borthwick gave a bonus to players who could carry heavily when the yards were at their heaviest, especially outside the half of scrimmage.
This is one area where Willis made a big impression during his episodic season in France with Bordeaux-Begle after the Wasps collapse.
He topped the Top 14 charts in defense losses, averaging around 5.43 per 80 minutes, and it's understandable that his power play was one of the standout features of England's summer training camp.
However, the former England Under-20 captain, Jack's younger brother, remains a freshman on the senior international stage. Does Borthwick take risks to adapt to his close combat ahead of more experienced options? It would seem that this is an edging in this direction.
Sam Simmonds withdrew from the competition before Zach Mercer, the former Bath No 8 player who helped Montpellier win the 2022 Top 14 title and was named Player of the Year, was also released in June to accommodate Willis.
It's unlikely that Tom Curry will be considered number eight, as he was under former England manager Eddie Jones, so Lewis Ludlum remains the only viable option.
Ludlam is the type of player Borthwick admires, tough, resilient and with a fierce work ethic, but he has played nearly all of his club and international rugby on the wing, with the exception of two cameos as number 8 at the end of games against Scotland and Italy.
Lewis Ludlum is another good choice for Steve Borthwick at number 8. Photo: Getty Images/Dan Mullan
A powerful performance against Wales after another strong week of preparation could seal Willis' place and give England another strong opportunity to keep the ball in the center of the back row. The stakes are so high.
Ludlam will most likely be fighting for a flank spot blindly along with Courtney Lowes, who can also cover the castle.
Curry, Jack Willis, Lowes and Wunipol are not called no doubt, while Maro Itoye, George Martin and Ollie Chessum are likely to be three locks, leaving Borthwick to choose between another heavyweight lock in Dave Ribbans or another option in the back row of Ludlam or Ben Earl.
It's interesting that whether Tom Willis makes the list is likely to influence these other considerations. After all, it could be a whole week.
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