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InternationalEnglandSaracens

Worrying scenes for both Saracens and England

Billy Vunipola picks up an injury against Sale

Saracens have just run out comprehensive winners against Sale Sharks by 41-13.

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One blot on their otherwise pristine copybook is the injury sustained by Billy Vunipola in the 37th minute.

It appeared to be an injury to his left leg, with commentators speculating that it looked as though it may have been his left knee.

The Saracens number eight looked in considerable pain leaving the pitch, needing two Saracens members of staff to help him to the dressing rooms.

The full extent of the injury will not be known until later but undoubtedly this will be very concerning news for both Saracens and England.

Eddie Jones is in attendance at the Harlequins vs. Leicester game and presumably, news of the injury has already reached him.

Vunipola was due to report for duty with the England training camp in Oxford this weekend, this now looks unlikely.

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Comments on RugbyPass

c
cw 6 minutes ago
The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

He is certainly no Skelton. His dimensions are similar to Eben at 204 cm / 120kg v 203 cm / 122kg. Though I take your point - the Boks churn out monsters in huge numbers. But we do have our own collection of monsters Tamaiti at 196 cm / 144 kg (combined 340) and Tosi at 193 / 140 kg (333) are as big as the biggest Bok monsters eg Snyder is 207cm / 130kg (337). And the point of having Vaa’i or Holland or Barrett at 4, 5 and or 6 and combined with others like Tuipulotu

and Parker - is that in “physics” theory at least their combined power matches that of the Boks - and provides the base for a rock solid scrum. And from memory, when Vaa’i or Holland were on the blindside, the NZ scrum did not go backwards.



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220 Go to comments
c
cw 29 minutes ago
The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

Cannot disagree - but it is interesting to note in those games the Boks were materially bigger (@ 38 point weight and height diferential where as the ABs and Boks were about even at Eden Park) and the English 6-2 combination was a clear point of difference. I also think the Boks had a blinder.

And to your last point - isnt that weird? An AB pack of the present dimensions should be at least achieving parity with both the Boks and Poms. Your post England game article highlighted a potential problem



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220 Go to comments
c
cw 57 minutes ago
The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

This is a huge piece of data NB! Thanks for sharing it. It absolutely confirms our intuitions about how Robertson is wanting to play the game. It is based on set piece dominance and hence the “powering” up of the forwards. The ABs midfield strategies are so muddled its no wonder the team struggles. Look forward to your post Christmas analysis re attack!!

220 Go to comments
J
JW 1 hour ago
The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

What makes you think Jake is?

220 Go to comments
J
JW 1 hour ago
The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

He will have a clause, they all do these days.

220 Go to comments
J
JW 1 hour ago
The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

With PMCD and I sorry.

New Zealand had more meters carried but England had more meters gained, so England had a much narrower margin between the two, or more specifically, because NZ had a much wider margin (gained only half or meters carried) that it proved England had a good rush D (the topic of discussion).



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220 Go to comments
c
cw 1 hour ago
The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

Thanks JW for clarifying your point and totally agree. The ABs are still trying to find their mojo” - that spark of power that binds and defines them. Man the Boks certainly found theirs in Wellington! But I think it cannot be far off for ABs - my comment about two coaches was a bit glib. The key point for me is that they need first a coach or coaches that can unlock that power and for me that starts at getting the set piece right and especially the scrum and second a coach that can simplify the game plans. I am fortified in this view by NBs comment that most of the ABs tries come from the scrum or lineout - this is the structured power game we have been seeing all year. But it cannot work while the scrum is backpeddling. That has to be fixed ASAP if Robertson is going to stick to this formula. I also think it is too late in the cycle to reverse course and revert to a game based on speed and continuity. The second is just as important - keep it simple! Complex movements that require 196 cm 144 kg props to run around like 95kg flankers is never going to work over a sustained period. The 2024 Blues showed what a powerful yet simple formula can do. The 2025 Blues, with Beauden at 10 tried to be more expansive / complicated - and struggled for most of the season.

I also think that the split bench needs to reflect the game they “want” to play not follow some rote formula. For example the ABs impact bench has the biggest front row in the World with two props 195cm / 140 kg plus. But that bulk cannot succeed without the right power based second row (7, 4, 5, 6). That bulk becomes a disadvantage if they don’t have a rock solid base behind them - as both Boks showed at Eden Park and the English in London. Fresh powerful legs need to come on with them - thats why we need a 6-2 bench. And teams with this split can have players focused only on 40 minutes max of super high intensity play. Hence Robertson needs to design his team to accord with these basic physics.



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c
cw 1 hour ago
The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

Yes agree - this AB’s performance in London was bewildering - it should have been their statement game - and it was - just the wrong statement.

220 Go to comments
J
JW 2 hours ago
The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

I just saw Kemeny’s try on the highlights lol

What a run him and Genge, love the leagues where you can still see those sorts of plays.



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W
WN 3 hours ago
Top 10 Test points scorers of 2025: Sacha just fell short at the death

Ranked points per match

1



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M
MO 5 hours ago
'To lose one Welsh captain is unfortunate; to lose two might be considered a bit careless'

Merry Christmas, mate. Sadly a miserable one for too many in Welsh rugby. Those responsible should be directed to the workhouse.

7 Go to comments
R
RobOC25 6 hours ago
Boks need more depth: 5 things on South Africa's Christmas wishlist

11 12 13 14 assuming no new talents push through I’d have thought would look like:

KLA Esturheizan Moodie Hooker.



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C
CS 8 hours ago
Top 10 Test points scorers of 2025: Sacha just fell short at the death

Morgane Bourgeois (France) 106.

3 Go to comments
C
CS 8 hours ago
Top 10 Test points scorers of 2025: Sacha just fell short at the death

Zoe Harrison (England) 101. Any others? You didn't state it was only men!

3 Go to comments
P
PMcD 8 hours ago
The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

I don’t think AUS are alone Ardy, I think IRE (and Leinster) are suffering a similar thing, as are ENG where the Lions players have been dropping like flies with injuries and they have been limiting their playing time since returning after the Lions.

I think an awful lot went into that Lions series but the toll has been felt since in AUS, IRE & ENG who provided the majority of the players.



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P
PMcD 8 hours ago
The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

Merry Christmas NB - have really enjoyed our chats this year and look forward to many more.

I’m not sure what has happened in IRE but having been blessed with multiple tightheads . . . . since Furlong emerged, the THP stocks have been a little bare in that department.



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D
DG 9 hours ago
Boks need more depth: 5 things on South Africa's Christmas wishlist

Comforting that you considered my views credible. Hope we can agree to disagree again in 2026.

15 Go to comments
N
NB 9 hours ago
The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?



So when you say they are overcomplicating it I’m thinking about how they’re trying to use the ball in hand, which is what any DNA refit would have to revolve around?

Funnily enough, a well-known international analyst just sent me a stat pack for the TRC which showed that among other stats, NZ scored 86% of their tries from scrum or lineout starters, and 70% from launches inside the opposing 22. They only scored two tries starting from their own side of halfway, lowest by far in TRC 2025!



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N
NB 9 hours ago
The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

Well he knew they could not cycle backwards so you could say it clarified his vision of where to go next.

220 Go to comments
N
NB 9 hours ago
The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

Israel Folau JW??

Yes he has footwork and speed in a straight line so let him use it in space for once. Not running into traffic.



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