RETURNING VUNIPOLA A GRATEFUL 8
BILLY VUNIPOLA vowed to make up for lost time as Owen Farrell was hailed as star of the year his England pal missed.
Saracens’ No.8 made a barnstorming return to action against Wasps on Sunday following a four-month lay-off.
Injuries restricted him to just 12 games in 2017, yet a new year has brought new optimism for the 25-year-old.
Vunipola said: “I’ll be better for that game next week and hopefully, if I keep going like this, I’ll be back to where I was in no time.
“For me, there is no point coming back and feeling your way around things. If I’m going to get injured, I’m going to get injured.”
England start their Six Nations title defence in Italy on February 4 and with Nathan Hughes injured, Eddie Jones hopes to have Vunipola firing on all cylinders.
“Obviously I want to play for England as much as I can and I have missed it,” said Vunipola.
“But I try not to think too much about it.
“If I can convince Eddie that I am in the right shape and playing well enough to be picked in his squad, then great. But if you’re setting your goal on England, you forget about what pushes you towards international recognition in the first place – the day-to-day stuff.”
Vunipola’s return to rugby was spent alongside Farrell (below), who last night was named Personality of the Year by the Rugby Union Writers’ Club.
Farrell, 26, enjoyed a superb 2017, steering England to Six Nations glory, Saracens to the European Cup and the Lions to a series draw in New Zealand.
Previous winners of the prestigious Pat Marshall Trophy include Jonah Lomu, Brian O’Driscoll, Martin Johnson and, last year, England coach Jones.
The most emotional moment of a gala evening was reserved for Doddie Weir, the Scotland legend fighting motor neurone disease, who received a special award.
Joe Marler, sent off playing for Harlequins on Saturday, faces disciplinary chiefs today knowing a ban, for striking with the shoulder, could rule him out of the start of the Six Nations.