SILLY BILLIES
England risk leaving Vunipola in a State
■ from ALEX SPINK in Kobe
EDDIE JONES insists sending injuryprone Billy Vunipola back into battle after just four days rest is the best plan for England’s star forward.
Vunipola has been picked to start his 11th consecutive Test when England face the United States tomorrow.
He was the only player to start all four warm-up games and one of only five to be asked to play again so soon after being bruised in the win over Tonga on Sunday.
“Lungs were tested, as was my ability to take a hit,” said Vunipola in reference to being knocked onto his backside in a collision likely to make the tournament highlights reel.
Jones unveiled his team on the day injury ruled Wales forward Cory Hill out of the World Cup and Scotland stars Ali Price and Hamish Watson suffered the same fate.
England can ill-afford to lose Vunipola, who suffered three broken arms last year.
As 2003 winner Paul Grayson put it: “They are a team that can lift the World Cup, just not without the Saracens No.8.”
But Jones said: “We want him in his best condition and his best condition is to play rugby.
“The best way to keep Billy fit is to keep him playing. He loves rugby, loves playing for this team and wants to play.”
Captain George Ford agreed and said: “Billy wants to be out there doing what he does, which is getting the ball in his hands and running over people. He loves playing more than he likes training.”
Jones added that he had weighed up the risk versus reward, given the player’s injury history, saying: “That’s a consideration.
“But the other consideration is that we’ve got 31 players and we have to pick 23, so, by definition, there have to be players backing up. What do you want me to do, go in with less players, not back people up?”
With 10 changes to Sunday’s team, there will be an opportunity against the USA for a number of fringe players, but Ford has hammered home the need to put the team before individual ambition.
“When the team changes a fair bit and lads get an opportunity, it’s so important we still do the right thing for the team,” he said.
“We massively believe that if we can play well as a 15 and a 23, and we do our jobs and our basics as well as we can, we’ll have a good night.”