1
Vunipola queries top 4 rankings; agrees England are 'public enemy No1'
Billy Vunipola has hit back at the suggestion that there is a top four in international rugby and that England are grouped amongst the also-rans even though they have won their way through to the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals.
ADVERTISEMENT
Much of the talk currently surrounding France 2023 has been about how the world’s four highest-ranked teams – the No1-ranked Ireland, the No2 France, the No3 South Africa, and the No4 New Zealand – were drawn on one side of the draw.
That situation will this weekend see Ireland take on the All Blacks and tournament hosts France attempt to dethrone the Springboks in Paris, quarter-final matches that will dominate the global interest. However, Pool D winners England are in action on Sunday against Fiji in Marseille the day after Pool C winners Wales take on Argentina.
While Vunipola accepted that the English won’t be popular going into that match against the Fijians, who have reached the last-eight for the first time since 2007, he questioned the existence of the world rankings, hinting that the widely criticised England are instead timing their run perfectly at the finals.
“I wouldn’t say Fiji is the second favourite team, I’d say England is their first least favorite team,” he quipped when asked about England’s lack of popularity outside their own country. “In terms of being public enemy No1, we’re happy to take that mantle.
“You see a lot of teams getting talked up. Apparently, there is a top four now in international rugby. I didn’t know there was a table but we are quietly and confidently going about our work. Our plan is to play well against Fiji and then deal with whatever happens after that, but Fiji is our main threat.”
Suspended for the opening match of the tournament against Argentina following a Summer Nations Series red card against Ireland in Dublin, Vunipola has since lost out of Saracens clubmate Ben Earl in the pecking order as he was only named as a sub in the wins over Japan and Samoa (he started versus minnows Chile).
ADVERTISEMENT
A bench role is set to be his situation again this weekend against the Fijians, but Vunipola insisted he can live with being amongst the replacements if it means England continue their World Cup progress. “Being honest, I’d like to have played some more games but in saying that, the team I am playing for is in the quarter-finals.
“So, I’m happy to be involved, happy to add in any way I can both in and off the pitch and if that means we get through to the next round then so be it. But in terms of my contribution, I’m just trying to give as much as I can anywhere that I can.
“I’d be lying if I said (not starting) it was easy but what makes it better is that I know the team is doing well and that is the most important thing, the team progressing and we are in the quarter-finals.
“That is the most important thing. I could easily fly home having played 80 minutes every week (but) I’d rather be in a team that is winning and is in a quarter-final and I’m happy to be a part of it.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Vunipola added the intensity in the England camp cranked up on Tuesday when they trained for the first time in Aix-en-Provence, their base ahead of Sunday’s clash with Fiji at nearby Marseille. “It’s plain and simple that if you don’t win this weekend you go home,” he said. “There is definitely an edge to training.
“You already saw it today and the way the boys are carrying themselves in the meeting we had in terms of reviewing (last Saturday’s Samoa game) and taking that forward. The boys are carrying that on their shoulders and making sure there is a lot of improvement going into this weekend.
It was 26°C when England started their Rugby World Cup quarter-final training ground preparations on Tuesday in Aix-en-Provence. #EnglandRugby #ENGvFIJ #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/d1TinVXOOU
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 10, 2023
“You can see that already. There is massive emphasis on the importance of this weekend because if you we lose we are going home.”
The start to England’s quarter-final training coincided with the arrival of Sam Underhill for his first pitch session since getting called up to the squad on Sunday in place of the injured Jack Willis. Vunipola reckoned: “He [Underhill] is a great player. We are just looking for him to add a different dimension to both training and if he if gets a chance in the game. It was a big loss to lose Jack.
“He [Underhill] trained today, trained really well, and he trained well in the summer. I remember Steve (Borthwick) referencing his name a lot in terms of his how he trained so he is in great shape. It is good to have him here. He takes a lot of flak as well so it’s good to have him here.”
"In terms of being public enemy No1, we're happy to take that mantle."
"Apparently there is a top four now in international rugby, I didn't know there was a table."
– Billy Vunipola issues a Rugby World Cup warning. #ENGvFIJ #EnglandRugby #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/MbxFFSB8BC
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 10, 2023
Comments on RugbyPass
The Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
2 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
2 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
2 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
2 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
2 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to commentsHarlequins doing their best to do as little damage as possible with all the possession. Looks like they skipped catch and pass drills this week.
7 Go to commentsSeeing pictures of Jacques high-fiving it with Irish players breaks my heart. Too soon. I need more time.
1 Go to commentsquins is all over the place. The minute they get the ball they panic. Quins can still win tho just need to win all rucks otherwise just don't bother.
7 Go to commentsGreat wins for the male & female kiwi sides. Ireland not far away..
1 Go to commentsWhy is this dude getting so much coverage? Usually knobs like this get cancelled.
2 Go to commentsWow. What was that? A 3 million word meandering article about what exactly?
2 Go to commentsNice piece of writing. And yes the Sharks pulled a rabbit from the hat and were a little lucky with that penalty try that wasn’t given… however the Sharks (with their resources) should be way more consistent and should be putting teams like Claremont away for breakfast. I expect more from them and hope they kick on now.
8 Go to commentsJust what the Sharks needed to get things going in the right direction Defence on the outside really creates havoc for the whole team and needs to be addressed.
8 Go to commentsWell done guys both teams will be ready to play knockout rugby.
1 Go to commentsSurprised that Ramos isn't starting at 15. But what a squad of galacticos!
2 Go to commentsWhy is it a snub? What journalistic garbage is that? Sure the guy is a great player, but there are plenty of loose forwards and not all of them can be Springboks. Also, I know of no-one who doubts Rassie’s judgment. South Africa has a conveyor belt of loose forwards that just keeps producing, so the competition is intense. I certainly wish him well, but there is no entitlement and there is no snub.
17 Go to commentsSkelton may be brought back for the Wallabies so that would be the only reason that may hinder Wilson. Easily the form, most skilful and game IQ of any Oz 8. Valentini’s best and favourite position is 6, but lineouts may be an issue with Skelton, Valentini and Wilson. Will be interesting what Schmidt goes for but for me Wilson should be picked on form. Schmidt rewards work rate, skill and consistency. All that glitters every so often won’t be in contention. Greely is one of those players that has a knack of making the right decision. A coach is going to love him because he knows week in week out he’s going to get the job done. The second try Greely wasn’t the guy who made the initial break it was Flook, Greely was at the bottom of the ruck when Flook was off along the sideline. Greely got up and made the effort to catch up with play but also read the play nicely and hit the pass from Campbell at pace and then held the pass beautifully to Ryan.
6 Go to comments