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Billy Vunipola admits England’s impressive victory over France is tinged with the disappointment of knowing that pride and not silverware is at stake on the final weekend.
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Maro Itoje’s late try at Twickenham on Saturday powered Eddie Jones’ men to their best win since the 2019 World Cup to lift the fallen Guinness Six Nations champions out of the doldrums as the expense of France’s Grand Slam ambitions.
Vunipola views a rejuvenating result against the tournament favourites grounded on endeavour and resilience as a launchpad similar to the third Test victory over South Africa in 2018.
But with defeats by Scotland and Wales ending their title defence in round three, the Saracens number eight accepts that Saturday’s round-five clash with Ireland has limited meaning.
“We’ve talked about wanting to be the greatest team in the world and this will give us confidence, knowing that we can mix it with the best teams out there and beat them,” Vunipola said.
“That really showed against France, so this can definitely be a springboard moving forward, especially next week in Ireland.
“There’s no use playing well against France and not backing it up next weekend. We want to do the same if not better against them.
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'When the officiating team reviews the match, their take on 2 crucial incidents, neither of which drew any comment from TV analysts, would make interesting listening'
Former ref Paul Smith ??? on two big missed calls that benefited England #sixnations https://t.co/dKEFdOJX8e
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 14, 2021
“But while it was a big win, we want to be competing for the title. We’d like to be going into Ireland knowing our destiny is in our hands. We know that’s not the case.
“I know people will say it’s a shame that we’re not in the title race, but we have to learn to move forward.
“When Eddie Jones first came in we had bombed out of the 2015 World Cup so you have to start from somewhere and, unfortunately, this is where we’re starting from as a team this year.
Some credit where credit is due? ? #ENGvFRA pic.twitter.com/rKrr8OSpk3
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 14, 2021
“If you look back to 2018, we lost five on the trot. But we won that game in South Africa in the third Test when people thought we were done and we kicked on from that point. This could be a similar point.”
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The outlook seemed bleak when Antoine Dupont crossed after 65 seconds, but England responded quickly with an Anthony Watson try and from that point a heavyweight contest ebbed and flowed until Itoje intervened.
“We knew how big this challenge would be. France have been amazing how they’ve played,” Vunipola said.
“We saw with their first try…everyone at home was probably waiting for a big score to be put on us.
'It's a unique pathway. Not a lot of guys end up doing it that way in pro rugby and I'd like to see more have that ambition.'@londonirish back row @MattRogerson_8 took the route less travelled to professional rugby, as @heagneyl ??? finds out #LIRvWOR https://t.co/50pwO86O0E
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 14, 2021
“But the fight and trust we had in each other as a team really showed and endured right until the end.
“That’s testament to how we’ve improved from two weeks ago and that’s the bit I’m happiest with.”
Underpinning the victory were improved performances from senior players and non more so than Vunipola, who – since admitting earlier in the Six Nations that he was playing “rubbish” – has been in rampaging form against Wales and France.
? #ENGvFRA pic.twitter.com/D8OEAqOZMP
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 13, 2021
“My job is to help the team and being courageous and being the player I know I can be is part of that,” he said.
“I feel like I’m getting back to a level where I’m helping the team and not taking away from the team. I’m staying on the pitch which is a good sign!”
Comments on RugbyPass
“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
3 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.
2 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…??? 🤑🤑🤑
3 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
3 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)
3 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?
2 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.
4 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 commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to comments