Resurgent Billy Vunipola feeling the Jones effect
Vunipola was magnificent as England launched their RBS 6 Nations campaign with a 15-9 victory over Scotland on Saturday, emerging as the dominant force in the Red Rose pack and taking the man of the match award as a result.
The 23-year-old, one of the squad’s three vice-captains, is to have a prominent role under Jones, and the Australian reacted to his performance at Murrayfield by stating he can become the game’s outstanding player in his position.
Jones’ holistic approach to shaping Vunipola into a world-class player is appreciated by the Saracens back row.
“I respond to the love and compassion Eddie shows the boys, me especially. He is very personable,” Vunipola said.
“He has been really good for me since he came in. He has just filled me with confidence and that is something I thrive on.
“I don’t need someone to shout at me. I know what I have to do. I just need someone to reassure me and look after me.”
Vunipola insists England are benefiting from being allowed to socialise more than under the previous regime, when players were told not to drink — even at the end of a tournament.
After last autumn’s World Cup demise, Vunipola declared that the squad would have benefited from being able to go down the pub, and it is a philosophy that has been shared by Jones.
“We have had a few bonding sessions. It’s important for me to know what someone else is about, what motivates them, whether that be their family or scoring tries,” Vunipola said.
“You just try to help them or the team in that way. It’s something you can’t really measure or see, but I definitely think it works.
“For some reason we’ve taken that tack this time and hopefully it’ll work for us in the long run. It’s too early to tell but I’m enjoying being with the boys and being in camp.”
Meanwhile Luke Charteris accepts there can be no margin for error for Wales following Sunday’s 16-16 draw with Ireland in Dublin.
Starting next Saturday, when Scotland arrive in Cardiff, Charteris feels Wales must realistically win three homes games — France and Italy are also due at the Millennium Stadium — and topple England at Twickenham to maintain hopes of finishing top.
“We have to win all four,” Wales lock Charteris said.
“We saw last year how close this tournament has been over the last few years. Unfortunately, there is no Grand Slam or Triple Crown to go for now, but we have to knuckle down and get four wins from four.”
Wales head coach Warren Gatland is scheduled to name his team for the Scotland clash tomorrow, with fly-half Dan Biggar the leading injury concern following his first-half departure with an ankle injury.
Scotland’s 15-9 defeat by England at Murrayfield on Saturday made it eight consecutive losses in the tournament, stretching back to their last-gasp triumph against Italy in Rome in February 2014.
But Scotland forwards coach Jonathan Humphreys is adamant they are making “incredible strides” as a squad despite their ongoing wait for an RBS 6 Nations victory.
Humphreys said: “We’re all frustrated by the outcome because we felt we had a few opportunities to score and win that game.
“In a six-point game it comes down to really fine margins and we are disappointed with some of the execution that we got.
“The last 18 months we have made incredible strides forward and it’s just frustrating that we don’t see it in the Six Nations in turning these close losses into wins... there will be some good times around the corner for this team.”
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