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Billy Vunipola has his say on 62-day winter break in between England games if Saracens don't deliver 'something in the pipeline'
Billy Vunipola believes his experience of having no rugby games in the first lockdown has him prepared to get through the nine weeks in between England matches this winter at a time when there is no certainty Saracens will be playing any game at all.
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Having played their last Premiership on October 4, the relegated London club have been in a near ten-week limbo since then and while there is a rumour that they Championship might belatedly get underway on January 16, nothing is set in stone.
It’s a scenario that leaves England Test players like Vunipola facing a game-free winter, with nothing but training to fill their time in the 62-day gap in between next Sunday’s Autumn Nations Cup final with France and the opening match of the 2021 Six Nations on February 6 against Scotland.
“We have just had a massive break from Covid,” he explained. “I did quite a bit throughout that period so if it happens again, and fingers crossed it doesn’t, then I have had that experience to push myself and make sure I come into (England) camp if picked and selected ready to go.
“I thought I did a good job of that last time. The next camp for England, if there aren’t any games, is the end of January so it’s actually not too long to wait for another game if we don’t have any games with Sarries lined up. I think we have something in the pipeline, it depends on whether they are going to announce it when everything is ready.
6?? players released back to their Premiership clubs#AutumnNationsCup #ENGvFRA
https://t.co/07lMYSmhyU— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 2, 2020
“It’s actually pretty positive because I know I have a few weeks off after this. But other than that it is trying to get the club to be in a good place and hopefully we will come up next year. My main focus is trying to play well on Sunday (for England), trying to make sure I’m performing to a consistent basis,” said Vunipola.
Twickenham will welcome 2,000 fans on Sunday, ending the plethora of behind closed doors games that Vunipola has been involved in with Saracens and England since matches resumed in August. He is hoping those fans at the ground and watching on TV will enjoy a spectacle to remember after a deluge of low frills rugby was labelled boring.
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“I understand what people are saying. I do watch a lot of rugby and sometimes it can be a bit tough to keep your focus, especially when you have got your phone and your i-pad and everything around you, and you’re battling with other sports as well for new fans’ attention.
“We had a World Cup that was unbelievable. We had as many viewers in terms of our social interactions and TV viewers than we had previously so the game can’t have changed within that short time span.
“Teams at the moment are prioritising winning and prioritising looking after themselves, especially with what we are going through with Covid. Everyone needs to look after themselves but we will come out of it and teams will start playing that free-running rugby again.
“Winning has become way more important than playing the type of rugby that people want to watch. It will change, it always does. But even if you are watching like a TV viewer, having fans there is way better and way more interesting. I’m pumped to have crowds back.
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“They add to the atmosphere. When people are there, we want to entertain them. It’s a bit like when you were younger and the girls used to turn up to PE and you always wanted to show off. But there’s no need for me to show off any more – I’m a married man!”
Episode 9 – Game Changers
We discuss the tense Wales vs England match from the weekend. Jamie reveals just how ruthless Shaun Edwards is! We speak to Mike Umaga on his son Jacob Umaga, and @OceansApartFilm !
iTunes – https://t.co/gfWdk5Vi8h
Spotify – https://t.co/JgbHP6KDdl pic.twitter.com/LF3nsAzp3c— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 2, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope WRU cops a 12 month ban.
1 Go to commentsOuch. Pumped. Even Nohamba is a better flyhalf than Ford.
2 Go to commentsI hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
2 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
30 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid 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?
13 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.
10 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.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 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.
27 Go to comments