With 10 minutes on the clock, Tom Willis carried the ball off the back of a Saracens scrum and ran straight into his older brother. Jack Willis, wearing the No6 jersey of Toulouse, wrapped an arm around his thigh as they grappled like two heavyweight wrestlers.
It was the sort of scrap the pair would have had as schoolboys, back in the garden of the family home in Reading. Except now they are two of the most powerful forwards in Europe and their slippery battle was at the heart of a pivotal Champions Cup clash.
Together, they reminded English rugby what they are missing. Tries, tackles turnovers. The grunt work that comes to the fore on a wet, winter’s night. Tom hurt his back during the first half but played through the pain barrier as Saracens landed their biggest win of the season.
England have riches of back-row forwards but few are blessed with more physicality than the Willis brothers. In another era – one with less financial uncertainty – the siblings could have been household names in the national team.
Tom Willis will move to Bordeaux next season, forgoing his chance to wear England’s No8 jersey at next year’s World Cup. Were it not for the pull of club contracts in France, the Willis boys could have enjoyed as much success on the Test arena as the Youngs brothers, Ben and Tom.
Their physicality set the tone in this heavyweight battle. Saracens booked their place in the knock-out stages while Toulouse, spearheaded by Antoine Dupont, must now beat Sale to progress after losing two games from three in the pool stages.
Tom Willis (right) claimed family bragging rights as his Saracens side beat brother Jack’s Toulouse 20-14
Tom said after the Champions Cup tie that playing against his brother was ‘a bit of a weird one’
Saracens brought line speed and aggression that forced handling errors in the French ranks. There were no free rucks. Dupont was not given the freedom of north London. Toulouse were missing Romain Ntamack and Ange Capuozzo and their absence was felt.
Blair Kinghorn took over the Toulouse No10 jersey and Scottish full back struggled to steer his team around the pitch in the torrential wind and rain. Instead, Owen Farrell emerged from the bench and took control of the final quarter, sending chasers for Noah Caluori, watching Toulouse make handling errors in the rain.
Saracens have struggled for consistency this season, with director of rugby Mark McCall publicly questioning his players’ attitude after their defeat by Leicester last weekend. Maro Itoje disrupted the French lineout and Theo McFarland used his long limbs to hound Dupont at the ruck.
Tom Willis carried the ball 17 times – twice than his brother – and powered over from close-range to give the hosts a 17-7 lead at half-time.
‘I can’t say I enjoy playing against my brother, it is a bit of a weird one,’ said Tom Willis. ‘We played together for six years at Wasps and to play against each other was an emotional one but a weird one.
‘We knew we were up against it against a really strong Toulouse side and we challenged ourselves to rise to the occasion and I am glad we did. We have been quite up and down this year and hopefully this will springboard us into a bit of consistency.
‘It is a brilliant feeling. We just spoke about just gritting it out, we were into the wind in the second half and just managed to get our way through it. It was minging weather to play in.’
Kinghorn scored the opening try but the five-time champions did not live up to their expectations. Young centre Olly Hartley won a pivotal turnover on his own tryline and Saracens weathered a storm, pinned back in their own half throughout the opening quarter.
Owen Farrell emerged from the bench and took control for his side in the final quarter
Saracens held an ‘honesty session’ in the week and it appeared to pay off on Sunday
The French were 11 point favourites to win but Rotimi Segun upset the odds and scored twice down the left wing.
Saracens held an ‘honesty session’ during the week, imploring more from their senior leaders. Itoje urged his players turn step up their emotional intensity and Willis set the tone.
‘Tom is a massive player for us,’ said Itoje. ‘He’s a great ball carrier. Probably the most awkward ball carrier I’ve seen. He finds ways to get go forwards from a standing starts and just wriggles his hips through contact. I thought both Willis brothers played well – Jack had some of his trademark turnovers – but I’ll give it to Tom!’
Family bragging rights will remain in London, but more importantly Saracens live to fight another day in the Champions Cup.