Tom Willis double gets Saracens back on track against Bristol after humiliating | Premiership

In the unpredictable world of high-level rugby, this was a result we could all understand. Bristol arrived on a record run of 10 away wins, but seriously hampered by injuries. They fought with spirit and snatched a late try bonus point, but rarely looked likely to seriously trouble Saracens, who were hungry to atone for Bath’s record break last Saturday.

The Bears have never won at this venue and a victory would have been an ideal way to start what is already a memorable weekend with Ilona Maher bowing out for their women’s team at Ashton Gate on Sunday. But two first-half tries from Sarries’ outstanding number 8 Tom Willis – including one of the quickest finishes you’ll see from a striker – helped Mark McCall’s men take control of the competition that they never gave up.

Saracens’ director of rugby made eight changes after the West Country humiliation, but England hooker Jamie George started again, determined to mark his 300th club appearance with a Saracens closer performance.

Bristol, meanwhile, were expected to miss winger Gabriel Ibitoye who was injured in last weekend’s heavy home defeat to Sale. In the even more felt absence of flyhalf AJ MacGinty, it was Sam Worsley, 21, who started.

There was some confusion early on due to an issue with the match clock, but there was nothing wrong with Saracens’ timing. Alex Lozowski and Nick Tompkins linked up sweetly and allowed Fergus Burke to release Lucio Cinti before Willis burst through. Smoother handling sent Cinti to the left again, which allowed Burke to slip through a gap in the 22 and land.

A long night lay ahead but Pat Lam’s men refused to give up. Harry Randall rushed over and, as Bristol immediately pushed for a second try, Itoje was shown a yellow card for a ruck infringement.

Despite being a man down, a long-range penalty from Elliot Daly extended Saracens’ lead before Itoje, returning from the sin-bin, intercepted and raced downfield , gaining territory for Willis to apply a sensational finish, spinning around three defenders on his way to the corner.

Harry Byrne, on loan from Leinster to replace MacGinty, came on but the attacking verve continued to come from the hosts, with Cinti sprinting after being fed by Ivan van Zyl.

In the final quarter, Bristol’s Kalaveti Ravouvou made an immediate impact from the bench after a quick Randall penalty – but a wild pursuit from Willis terrorized Bristol’s Rich Lane at the other end and sent the home crowd roaring .

Harry Thacker’s try then made it nine points – “I was nervous the last 10 games,” McCall said – before an extremely disciplined Saracens defensive set-up sparked Burke’s second try. There was time for Jake Heenan to get a try bonus point from the Bears, but overall it was the reaction McCall and Saracens wanted.

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“Tom was outstanding,” McCall said of Willis. “He has been exceptional all year and if he continues to perform like this he will be rewarded (with the England team).”

Leicester battled back to secure a much-needed but unconvincing victory against struggling Exeter in a dour competition. The Tigers were the better team in the first half, but the visitors dominated the second half until Will Rigg was sent to the sin-bin and the Chiefs were unfortunate not to leave Welford Road with at minus one point.

Olly Cracknell, Cameron Henderson, Ollie Hassell-Collins and Ben Youngs scored Leicester’s tries, with Handré Pollard converting all four. For Exeter, some magic from Henry Slade created two tries for Tom Wyatt, with Josh Hodge converting one. Slade added a penalty.

Exeter were awarded a penalty in the fourth minute from Slade’s penalty, but in their first period of pressure, Leicester responded with a Cracknell try, when the No.8 proved unstoppable during a scrum. five meters. Pollard converted to make it 7-3 at the end of a competitive but scrappy first quarter.

Leicester extended the lead when a half-break from Pollard gave Henderson the opportunity to crash under the posts. Pollard converted, but his failure on a long-range penalty meant a 14-3 lead at the interval.

Two minutes after the restart Exeter scored an excellent try with Slade’s cross kick collected by Wyatt for the wing to run and Chiefs continued to take the upper hand in the third quarter. Stu Townsend and Slade combined perfectly to provide Wyatt with a walk-off score. Hodge took over Slade’s kicks and scored the conversion near the touchline to put his team in front.

With 15 minutes to go, Exeter lost Rigg to sin for taking out Freddie Steward in the air and the Tigers immediately capitalized. A Dan Kelly break tore the defense apart and, when the ball was recycled, Hassell-Collins burst through the cover to score.

Rigg was still out when Youngs saw a gap to secure a barely deserved bonus point. PA Media

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Youngs and his colleagues make Rigg pay for his yellow card

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Leicester battled back to secure a much-needed but unconvincing victory against struggling Exeter in a dour competition. The Tigers were the better team in the first half, but the visitors dominated the second half until Will Rigg was sent to the sin-bin and the Chiefs were unfortunate not to leave Welford Road with at minus one point.

Olly Cracknell, Cameron Henderson, Ollie Hassell-Collins and Ben Youngs scored Leicester’s tries, with Handré Pollard converting all four. For Exeter, some magic from Henry Slade created two tries for Tom Wyatt, with Josh Hodge converting one. Slade added a penalty.

Exeter were awarded a penalty in the fourth minute from Slade’s penalty, but in their first period of pressure, Leicester responded with a Cracknell try, when the No.8 proved unstoppable during a scrum. five meters. Pollard converted to make it 7-3 at the end of a competitive but scrappy first quarter.

Leicester extended the lead when a half-break from Pollard gave Henderson the opportunity to crash under the posts. Pollard converted, but his failure on a long-range penalty meant a 14-3 lead at the interval.

Two minutes after the restart Exeter scored an excellent try with Slade’s cross kick collected by Wyatt for the wing to run and Chiefs continued to take the upper hand in the third quarter. Stu Townsend and Slade combined perfectly to provide Wyatt with a walk-off score. Hodge took over Slade’s kicks and scored the conversion near the touchline to put his team in front.

With 15 minutes to go, Exeter lost Rigg to sin for taking out Freddie Steward in the air and the Tigers immediately capitalized. A Dan Kelly break tore the defense apart and, when the ball was recycled, Hassell-Collins burst through the cover to score.

Rigg was still out when Youngs saw a gap to secure a barely deserved bonus point. PA Media

Lam was pleased with his players’ fighting spirit. “At 27-7, you get here and you’re so far behind that it could really get away from you,” he said. “But the boys resisted fiercely. They knew we had the potential to come back.

Of Maher’s debut for Bristol Women on Sunday, he said: “It’s great for the game, great for the women’s game. There are a lot of people coming, which is great – people who don’t normally come to rugby.

McCall, however, saved the last word for the irrepressible George. “To be able to do what he did – 300 games for us, 97 for England, three for the British Lions – is down to his competitive spirit and his drive,” McCall said. “But he’s able to combine that with being a really good guy.” George’s prospect of a seventh Premiership title is also back on track.