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'Being reckless is not a trait you want but sometimes how I play my best is just throwing my body into things'
Rejuvenated England forward Billy Vunipola has revealed that a conversation with Eddie Jones was at the heart of the reason why he came away from the Autumn Nations Cup feeling he had got to level of performance he had not enjoyed for a number of years.
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A broken arm meant that the No8 missed the four Six Nations matches which England played in the early part of 2020 before the lockdown caused the suspension of rugby. However, he returned to help his country clinch the title with an October win in Rome and he then went on to wield further trophy-winning influence in the four-game Nations Cup.
Come the early December finish, Vunipola had registered a 309-metre carry from 75 runs as well as a tackle count of 68. That was enough for him to be the starting England forward who carried the most in each of the five matches played while he was also top of the starting pack tackle count in three of those games.
Eight weeks on from the campaign-ended Twickenham win over France, Vunipola has now admitted that a candid pep talk with England boss Jones was pivotal in helping him to be the feared wrecking-ball that he used to be.
“The thing I needed to improve was freeing myself up in terms of not being afraid of getting injured,” explained Vunipola over Zoom from the England pre-Six Nations camp at St George’s Park ahead of the February 6 opener versus Scotland at Twickenham.
What happened to Fiji at the Autumn Nations Cup has had ramifications for England and how they will run their Six Nations camp#GuinnessSixNations
https://t.co/OQ1OScMCtg— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 27, 2021
“That didn’t hold me back but didn’t allow me to express myself as I normally would do. Being reckless is not a trait that you want but sometimes in my game how I play my best is just throwing my body into things 100 per cent.
“Maybe sometimes I wasn’t doing that. To have that conversation with Eddie was pretty calming because it allowed me to go out and do that because I knew that he backed me, but also it was important that it came from me. I want to be in this team as much as everyone else and I needed to show that.
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“After the autumn I thought I got to a level where I haven’t been for a few years. Me and Eddie had a good chat about it. That was the whole reasoning behind me going straight back into training because I want to come back and start off where I left off.
“I’m in a position where I can do that now. I’m confident in my body physically. My weight and everything else is a constant battle but I feel like at the moment I’m on top of it. I’m excited to show what I can do in the games.”
Other England players at relegated Saracens opted to use the nine-week gap in between Test matches as an opportunity to train like it was a pre-season. Vunipola, though, instead opted to join in with club training and he even played in the recent Trailfinders Cup defeat at Ealing as he felt he is happiest when playing as much as possible.
“When I left the autumn it was a toss-up between taking a week or two off or going straight back into training. I benefit most from moving and staying moving so I went straight back into training,” said.
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“I know my wife wasn’t very happy about it but I wanted to come into this camp ahead of where I was before the autumn and that is what I did. Went back training, joined in with the squad, played against Ealing and carried on training. Some of the other boys started with a pre-season block which I don’t particularly enjoy, so that is why I went straight back into training.”
Vunipola hopes that his return to his best form with England can now continue into the Six Nations and last the whole way through to the Lions tour in South Africa, especially as he missed out in 2017 in New Zealand due to injury.
Bristol have given update on how Sinckler is responding to suspension that hit his England plans#GallagherPrem #GuinnessSixNations
https://t.co/2Ce3ZYe7VC— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 27, 2021
“100 per cent,” he replied when asked does he want to tour. “I said this four years ago, a lot of people are afraid of saying I want to go in the Lions tour and making it clear but that is one of my goals throughout this Six Nations, to put myself in the shop window to know that I can perform at the highest level.
“I’m keen to go on that plane and play for the Lions. If it goes ahead it goes ahead, but my focus is playing really well for England. That is the only thing I can do.”
England won back-to-back Six Nations titles in 2016 and 2017 and Vunipola’s message to his teammates as they seek to achieve another two-in-a-row in the championship it to never get bored of winning. “The biggest lesson is just don’t get bored of winning. You can never get bored of winning because after that 2017 year we lost those games five in a row and then it was tough to get out of that rut.
“We have a target over our head and everyone is trying to build us up as favourites, which is fine, but we have got to take that mantra on and keep playing the way we play. I know that Eddie had talked about wanting to play every eventuality that plays out in a game, so we have got to be ready for what teams bring and that is what we are preparing to do.
“It’s not an easy thing but it’s something we are trying to push. We are trying to change how people attack and look at the way we play the game. I know it probably didn’t unfold the way we wanted in the autumn but we have another opportunity to do it now.”
"It’s a tough one not being able to give your all when you are player of Joe Marler’s calibre"
– @Mako_Vunipola talks Marler, England Six Nations and his achilles rehab w/ @chrisjonespress ???https://t.co/BmjBNVzXif
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 26, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
Did footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
10 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
10 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
34 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
34 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to comments