Tom Willis delivered a standout performance, scoring two tries, as Saracens secured a 35-26 win over Bristol Bears in the Gallagher Premiership. This victory snapped Bristol’s impressive 10-game winning streak on the road and came just a week after Saracens suffered a heavy defeat against Bath. Willis’s powerful runs and dominant play have boosted his chances of making his England debut as the No. 8 for the Six Nations opener against Ireland on February 1.

Willis’s second try, just before halftime, was a highlight moment as he weaved past three defenders with sheer determination and speed. His dynamic ball-carrying ability is exactly what England’s back row has been missing, making him a strong contender for national team selection. Fergus Burke also contributed significantly with two tries, while Lucio Cinti added another to help Saracens secure a much-needed bonus-point victory on Jamie George’s 300th club appearance.

Bristol, who were coming off a tough 38-0 loss to Sale the previous week, showed resilience late in the game but couldn’t close the gap. Harry Randall scored early for Bristol, and further tries from Kalaveti Ravouvou, Harry Thacker, and Jake Heenan added to their tally. However, Saracens’ Elliot Daly slotted a crucial long-range penalty, and their disciplined defense held strong despite Maro Itoje being sent to the sin bin for the eighth time in 21 matches.

In other Premiership action, Gloucester dominated Sale Sharks with a commanding 36-20 win. Wales international Max Llewellyn was the star of the show, scoring two tries—one in each half. Gloucester’s early onslaught included tries from Santi Carreras and Josh Hathaway, giving them a comfortable 22-3 lead within the first half-hour. Although Sale attempted a comeback with tries from Ben Curry, Luke Cowan-Dickie, and Tom Roebuck, Gloucester sealed their victory with Llewellyn’s second try and a late score from Tomos Williams. Carreras added further points with his accurate kicks, finishing with a personal tally of 16 points.

Meanwhile, Leicester Tigers secured a scrappy 28-15 win over Exeter Chiefs in a match that lacked flair but delivered much-needed points for Leicester. The Tigers started strong with first-half tries from Olly Cracknell and Cameron Henderson, both converted by Handre Pollard. Exeter pushed back hard in the second half with two stunning tries by Tom Wyatt, set up by the brilliance of Henry Slade. However, Exeter’s momentum faltered when Will Rigg was sin-binned for taking Freddie Steward out in the air. Leicester capitalized immediately with Ollie Hassell-Collins and Ben Youngs crossing the line to secure a bonus point victory.

This weekend of Gallagher Premiership action highlighted some brilliant individual performances, including Willis and Llewellyn staking their claims for higher honors. Fans can look forward to more exciting rugby as teams battle for playoff spots in the coming weeks.