Billy Vunipola supports O'Brien's critique of Lions coaching staff

English back rower Billy Vunipola believes if the Lions had been under the tutelage of Eddie Jones, the tourists would have won the series 3-0.

His comments were inspired by a Sean O’Brien radio interview yesterday, where he had his sights firmly set on the Lions coaching team.

O’Brien’s main gripe was that the team was overworked in the run-up to the first test and that Rob Howley was unable to get his message across to the backline.

“If I was being critical of any coach it would be the fact that I think Rob struggled with the group in terms of his attributes of trying to get stuff across whereas Johnny and Owen drove everything the second week, for instance, in our attack and had a better plan in place,” he said.

https://twitter.com/bvunipola/status/910841350387617792

Vunipola, who was initially named in the squad but withdrew due to a persistent shoulder injury, had this to say when speaking to the BBC:

“I wasn’t there on tour but I guess if he [O’Brien] is saying it and the authority he said it with, he’s probably right.”

“For me to sit here and say the Lions would have probably won is wrong. But personally my opinion is that if Eddie Jones went as coach they would have won 3-0. He is that good.”

“I don’t know how he would have done it, but Eddie would have found a way. Eddie has changed our mindset at England from always accepting we can’t always be too outspoken and confident and he’s really helped us kick on.”