Tom Willis sends message to Borthwick as Saracens sweep Bulls aside

This mightily impressive Saracens victory came with a touch of the slapstick – howling winds can make any player look silly – and a reminder of the farce that is Tom Willis’s continued England omission.

The No 8 turned in an imperious display, demonstrating precisely what can be achieved with a back-row forward who can blast his way over the gainline. That it was against South African opposition too – albeit not of the calibre of the starting Springboks – should not be lost on Steve Borthwick, whose England side were again blunted by South Africa a few weeks ago.

It was Willis’s second half try that rubber-stamped Saracens’ victory, getting the three-times champions up and running in the Champions Cup and avenging last season’s defeat by the Bulls in Pretoria. For one or two England internationals, there seemed to be something particularly satisfying about getting one over the Springbok veteran Willie le Roux.

It was also the perfect way for Saracens to respond to last week’s shock defeat by Newcastle and, in filthy conditions, against vaunted opposition, the stage was perfectly set for them. Maro Itoje was at his disruptive best, Jamie George fired up from the first whistle, but it was Willis who shone brightest, sending the Bulls home with their tails between their legs.

The visitors were missing several Springboks forwards including Ruan Nortje and Elrich Louw, but still brought with them a beastly pack, featuring a hulking back row and a 6ft 5in loose-head prop. As a result, Saracens’ challenge appeared hard enough but playing into the teeth of the wind in the first half they found themselves camped in their own 22.

On the rare occasion they could clear their lines Fergus Burke found yards hard to come by from the boot and when Sebastian de Klerk finished off the opening try in the right corner for the Bulls after a delightful pass off his left hand from Le Roux, you wondered how big the deficit might be at the interval.

To Saracens’ credit, however, they rallied. Elliot Daly’s snaky run led to a first significant bit of territory for the home side and from there they built a foothold into the game.

Burke missed a sitter from the tee – walloping his kick against the right post – before Saracens, emboldened, turned down kickable penalties and restored parity at 5-5 when the powerful Wales front-rower Rhys Carre forced his way over. Burke did his best from the tee but Storm Darragh was having none of it, instead playing havoc whenever either side put boot to ball.

The Bulls turned the screw at the scrum but a Willis turnover demonstrated he has lost little of the form that made his exclusion from England’s autumn squad such a headscratcher. Saracens’ respite was only temporary because a Burke clearance kick went backwards and into the arms of his winger Rotimi Segun, whose foot was in touch.

The penny dropped for Saracens, who stopped kicking when awarded penalties in their half, instead turning to Willis’s bulldozing carrying and gradually made their way upfield before Burke had another go from the tee in front of the posts, this time making no mistake.

With the wind at their backs and two extra men when Jannes Kirsten was shown a yellow card for a high tackle and De Klerk swiftly followed him to the sin-bin Saracens were in the ascendancy after the break and extended their lead with George going over at the back of a lineout drive.

It felt the telling score and when Willis scored the try his performance deserved from close range after Theo McFarland’s charge down, the Bulls were done for.

Ben Earl added a fourth try and with it the bonus point but he will be only too aware that much more of this from Willis and his place in the England side will be under considerable threat.