CHRIS FOY: England exiling the exceptional Jack Willis makes NO sense (2024)

Jack Willis cannot play for England at the moment but he has proved yet again why he should do. The flanker’s performance on Saturday was an ‘exceptional circ*mstance’ in its own right.

That is the flexibility clause in the RFU edict which forbids the selection of players employed outside the Premiership. Willis’s exploits in the Champions Cup final, in the colours of triumphant Toulouse, were so exceptional that it should activate that clause.

In the aftermath of the French club’s 31-22 win over Leinster, there was conflicting data about the Englishman’s staggering impact. Some statisticians said he made 30 tackles, others had counted 41.Either way, he was a defensive machine as Toulouse won on the back foot, having been eclipsed in terms of possession and territory.

It was a pleasure to see a good man and fine player having such a momentous feat to cherish, after the shock of being out of work when Wasps collapsed — not long after a horror injury had already disrupted his career.

Now, the only disruption is a harsh Test exile. Well, here’s another exceptional circ*mstance: playing the All Blacks, in New Zealand — which is what England have to do in July. It should be all hands on deck for such a daunting assignment.

But dates and politics mean Willis can’t make that tour. June 28 is when the Top 14 final takes place and few would bet against Toulouse being there.

England face Japan six days earlier, in Tokyo. Rugby’s messy calendar does not help in this situation. Maybe, one day, there will be a truly joined-up global season — and pigs might fly.

It would be good to see England head coach Steve Borthwick go rogue and pick Willis in defiance of union policy.

But he is not a boat-rocking sort and it is a particularly tense time, as negotiations continue over a new club-country deal, so an act of selection rebellion is more unlikely than ever.

Instead, the Lions could be a viable target for Willis, as that longer tour of Australia next year allows time to integrate.

If head coach Andy Farrell is open to accommodating a few late arrivals, the man who is standing tall amid the Galacticos at Europe’s pre-eminent club should have a decent shot.

And he will play for England again one day, either when a Premiership club can afford to bring him home, or when rugby finally loses the protectionist attitude holding it back.

Brilliant Blair soaks up Champions Cup win

Toulouse’s other Brit showed his class on Saturday – and his light-hearted nature. Blair Kinghorn kept France stalwart Thomas Ramos out of the starting XV again, which is quite something, and he fully justified his inclusion.

The 27-year-old looked so at ease, so languid, so unflustered, despite the magnitude of the occasion. There were nonchalant catches above his head, seemingly casual swings of the boot to project the ball miles – at goal or in open play – and subtle shifts in running lines to glide past defenders.

Then came the fun part, as Kinghorn picked up his medal and then pretended to ride a sponsor’s model zebra next to the podium, before joking around in front of the TV cameras. He’s an innate showman and rugby needs more of them.

In a largely conformist sport, it is good to see another free spirit rising to the top, in much the same entertaining way as his genius compatriot, Finn Russell.

A big tick for Tottenham

Tottenham — big tick. What a venue for finals weekend. Not only is it a stunning stadium (right), but it has the friendliest staff who seem so proud of the place.

Compared to some of the surly, half-hearted or over-officious attitudes at the World Cup last year, it was a joy to be met by so much enthusiasm, courtesy and goodwill.

The best-attended Champions Cup final for a decade and a crowd of nearly 35,000 for the Challenge Cup final on Friday equates to a successful weekend for the organisers.

No question, London is well equipped to handle these mega events, but four of the last six finals have been in England and next year it is the turn of Cardiff, yet again.

So much familiarity.

Roll on 2026, when the finals return to Bilbao in northern Spain. Rugby needs to keep up the push into new territories, not just go round in circles.

Enforcer Etzebeth looks like he has another World Cup in him

Champion players step up when it matters. That was certainly true of Antoine Dupont on Saturday afternoon, but it was also true of Eben Etzebeth on Friday night.

Putting aside the glaring logistical nonsense of South African teams’ involvement in ‘European’ cups, the veteran lock was a towering talisman as the Sharks become the first team from their country to win one of these titles.

Over recent years, it has felt as if some of the recognition for Etzebeth has been based on reputation rather than compelling form, but he was magnificent – in his hyper-aggressive way – in the Challenge Cup Final, as the Sharks’ formidable pack overwhelmed their Gloucester counterparts.

It feels as if the giant enforcer has been around forever but he’s only 32. At this rate, he may have another World Cup triumph in him.

The Last Word

There was absolute bedlam in Toulouse on Saturday night as the ‘Red Kingdom’ partied in tribute to a sixth European conquest.

Place du Capitole in the heart of the city was rammed with thousands of French fans and there was a mood of noisy, youthful euphoria under a haze of flares. It was another glimpse of rugby’s Gallic boom.

Nowhere else comes close – although it was heartening to see the show of force by Gloucester fans on Friday night. The previous weekend, more than 22,000 were at Welford Road to watch Leicester conclude a dire league campaign, to show that the Tigers remain the best supported club in England.

One day, when another Premiership club wins the Champions Cup, it won’t create scenes like there were in Toulouse, or in La Rochelle the previous two years, or in Clermont when ‘Les Jaunards’ have reached finals.

Rugby just matters more in France and no amount of clever marketing is going to replicate that here, where football is king.