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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'

(Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

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.  

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How the England and France press conferences unfolded at the Six Nations virtual media launch

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How the England and France press conferences unfolded at the Six Nations virtual media launch

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.  

“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.

“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.”

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J
JPM 27 minutes ago
Forget Ireland, the All Blacks face the real alpha of Europe next

Unfortunately you don't know anything about French rugby, coaches and players but still making a lot of assumptions and judgements to push your prefabricated and simplistic point of view that Dupont is manipulating everything and is a bad guy. I am not a NZ rugby specialist and wouldn't dare make such theories about what is going on within the ABs team. Therefore my advice to you is to do like Dupont and stay humble when you don't know all the background of the issues !!!


Firstly if you knew a bit of Galthié, he is not the type of coach who is going to ask advice to his players and even his captain about team selection. He is as stubborn as you...


Second Ramos has played a lot of times as 10 with Toulouse and therefore Dupont (in particular when Ntamack is injured and unfortunately it has often happened recently and for long periods). He even played 10 during the last 3 games of the 2024 6N and this was far better performance than the first two games with Jalibert as 10.


Thirdly Jalibert lacked of respect to a La Rochelle player so your theory is once again out.


Fourth as I explained to you Galthié went for a 6-2 bench and Jalibert can only play 10 which doesn't fit that plan. Furthermore as 15 Buros is better under high balls than Ramos and everybody is prepared for a tactical kicking game.


So you can blame Galthié for a lot of things (as you clearly enjoy doing at the end of your post and you should be very happy as an AB fan) but certainly not Dupont. Sorry once more for your conspiracy theory.


And don't worry about potential disharmony in the French team; they are excellent mates around their captain. Jalibert is well known in the French rugby circles to have not a strong character (and we saw that in the WC quarter finals as he is very nervous in any decisive international game unlike Ntamack and Ramos as for his late penalty kick vs England this year).


In conclusion enjoy the game tmrw night. It is good that the ABs are very upset; we should watch a great game of rugby. I hope for running rugby and not too much kicking. With 5 key players injured on our side (Ntamack, Baille, Atonio, Cros and Penaud) and 2 on your side I and various French fans see you as favourites. I obviously hope for another result.


If you are interested you can read a good article in the Guardian on the subject of France-NZ games.

92 Go to comments
K
KB 29 minutes ago
The 'one difference' between Boks and the back-to-back All Blacks

Consistency hasnt been there they have many great players SA were also not unbeaten in the 2023 WC - NZ were in 2015 WC McCaw and Carter Nonu and Smith - SA did not have those Marque players in those postions in 2019 or 2023 - I wouldnt rank them ahead of the 20I5 ABs - They clocked up 60 points against France in the QF - Furthermore I do not believe for one moment SA won 2023 fairly no way - they were so favoured it became obvious that behind the scenes SA the nation bought the title - Their last 3 matches were won by a solitary point there were many contentious decisions that went their way that it became obvious it wasnt coincidence - Sport has been hijacked by a satanic cult just as is Politics

Some players coaches officials and sponsors are involved - they know who they are - its called Freemasonry - any sport that allows betting is corrupt - its not all about money either for these parasites its also about control - Lots of American NFL players have spoken openly about games being scripted - Football is also rigged Referees have been caught on film showing freemason hand signs - The 95 RWC final ranks as the highest and most obvious attempt at cheating There was no way SA were going to allow NZ to gate crash Nelson Mandelas reunification party - NZ were so good they had to posion almost the entire team to get a 3 point win - a Hollywood Movie ( theres your Red Flag ) was made about SAs triumph called Invictus


William Henley wrote a poem called Invictus


It starts


Out of the night that covers me BLACK ( All Blacks ) as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever GODS maybe for my unconquerable Soul ...( Olan says INVICTUS is an evil Malevolent entity who corrupted the Titans ... this is Mandelas double meaning speech ( hes a fraud ) - of thanks for helping overcome SA's adversary NZ - There is only ONE true God Yahuah - Only a false god would be complicit in Cheating Corruption and Harming others to win a RWC for a sick and sinful Nation ) the poem ends with


I am the CAPTAIN of my soul


SA will forever bear the stain of guilt and disgrace over their involvement in poisoning the ABs a day before the 95 RWC Final

10 Go to comments
C
CO 1 hour ago
Forget Ireland, the All Blacks face the real alpha of Europe next

I cannot believe that you don't think the French rugby team coach and captain are not discussing putting Jalibert on the bench in favour of Duponts club teammate that doesn't even play at 10.


This is a terrible, massive insult to a 10 and I'm sure Dupont would also be very enraged if benched for a player that doesn't even play halfback.


A good captain would've insisted to the coach that it was an idea of madness and either select Jalibert or replace him with another 10 if you want him to be reserve.


Jalibert may not be the world's finest tacklers but that's often not a tens main strength that the loose forwards and second five cover. An intercept pass is never great but they happen.


When any player is playing for his club then it's club first, respect doesn't need to be shown to opposition players simply because they're internationals.


Who exactly are you claiming Jalibert hasn't respected? If it's Toulouse international players then it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this bench demotion out.


The outcome of selecting Jalibert to the bench and he then throwing his croissants out the window of the team bus immediately prior to playing the Allblacks is a disaster that will be team disharmony as any team mates of Jalibert are in a state of anger and revolt so a performance that will be sub optimal against a team that is thirsting for revenge against France.


I don't know about you but the Allblacks are very upset they've lost twice in a row to France and want to put out a statement performance so this preparation by Galthie of creating havoc looks to me like a coach that is clueless.

92 Go to comments
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