Wasps’ young back-row forward Jack Willis certainly ticks a few boxes. Good at the breakdown. Tick. Hard over the ball. Tick. Strong in the carry. Tick. Makes hard yards. Tick. Tough bugger to dislodge in contact. Tick. Tick. Tick.
How England could have done with a work-sheet like that in recent weeks, a ledger of excellence in a key phase of the game. Of course, there are caveats. Willis is only just making his mark in Wasps colours, back down to bench duty for Sunday’s Aviva Premiership match against Leicester at Welford as James Haskell returns from England duty.
But Willis’ time is coming. Of that there is little doubt. Quickly enough to break through into Eddie Jones’ 2019 World Cup squad?...