Resilient Willis excels for England with all-action display against Italy

N early two and a half years ago England claimed a dominant victory here against Georgia in the best-forgotten Autumn Nations Cup. It was a match memorable for little other than England handing first Test starts to Jack Willis and Ollie Lawrence and proceeding to maul their opposition to death. So much has changed in the ensuing years and months – not least both players losing their jobs – yet equally, there are considerable parallels to this victory over Italy that represent a smallish step in the right direction for England under Steve Borthwick.

Both Willis – who was making his first start since that victory over Georgia – and Lawrence were excellent against Italy. They were standout performers in a workmanlike performance which was far more robust defensively, stifling opposition who were supposed to pose considerable threats. It was reminiscent of November’s win over Japan in that sense – England kicked the leather off the ball that day – and Borthwick evidently had a plan for this potential banana skin. Namely, to muscle up in the forwards and for England to lineout drive their way to a first win of his tenure.

The key questions facing Borthwick, however, are whether his midfield overhaul worked and how he keeps Willis in the side when Tom Curry returns to fitness. Addressing the first point, Lawrence ran hard and straight and stuck to the task admirably. The last time he lined up with Owen Farrell on his inside and Henry Slade outside him he touched the ball just once. Here he was far more involved but you could not help wonder whether Marcus Smith at fly-half with Lawrence and Slade in the centres is the best blend available to the head coach.

The counterargument is that, though he needed no invitation to put