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'Couldn't be more impressed': Vunipola primed for Saracens return

By PA
(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Mako Vunipola is set to give Saracens a major European Challenge Cup boost by returning for Saturday’s semi-final against Toulon. The England prop has been sidelined since suffering an ankle injury during Saracens’ victory over Gallagher Premiership title rivals Leicester almost ten weeks ago.

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But Saracens rugby director Mark McCall has confirmed that Vunipola, who has been overlooked by England boss Eddie Jones this season, is fit for the last-four clash at Stade Felix-Mayol. “Mako is available for selection this week,” McCall said when quizzed about the availability of Vunipola for Saracens in France.

Mako has been a very important member of the group all season, to be honest. I could not be more impressed with his overall contribution. We made him captain during the period of the Six Nations, and he did a phenomenal job.

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“It was wonderful that he wanted to go to Kingsholm (for last Friday’s quarter-final against Gloucester) and support his team-mates, even though he wasn’t playing.”

Saracens will be without wing Sean Maitland due to a minor hamstring issue as they face a first European semi-final since September 2020. On that occasion, it was Heineken Champions Cup opponents Racing 92 before Saracens took their place in the second-tier English Championship after being relegated from the Premiership for repeated salary cap breaches.

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Even though it is the Challenge Cup, rather than the Champions Cup, McCall’s men have relished being back on a European stage. They were European champions in 2016, 2017 and 2019, although previous Challenge Cup campaigns produced three semi-final losses – two against Bath, and one to Northampton. “Just to be playing knockout rugby in front of great crowds in great places is exactly what we wanted, and exactly what we missed, and we have got another chance this weekend,” McCall added.

“It seems like a really big match. It (Toulon) is a great rugby town, a superb stadium and a great atmosphere. It is a club steeped in European history, so it is a game to look forward to. The (Gloucester) game felt like it was an important step up for us. I still think there is more in us, and we have got to back that up this weekend. Last Friday is done now, and Saturday night is a new game against a new opponent in a different place, and we have got to go and do it again.”

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Toulon have been transformed since the arrival of former Clermont boss Franck Azema as head coach. They have won their last six games in the Top 14, a run that included victories over La Rochelle, Lyon, Toulouse and Bordeaux-Begles. “We have been watching Toulon for a while, and there has been quite a shift since they changed coach,” McCall said.

“There has been a real resurgence from a performance point of view since Franck has been on board. And they have got great players – there is huge talent there, a formidable team. And over the last two or three months, they have really picked up in terms of performances and results. They have beaten Toulouse and La Rochelle at their place, so we are well aware of the scale of the challenge.”

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J
JW 1 hour ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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