There will be no burn-out for Billy, says coach Jones

EDDIE Jones has defended his ongoing selection of Billy Vunipola despite the England No.8’s escalating workload.

Vunipola is retained in the back row for tomorrow’s World Cup clash with the USA at the Kobe Misaki Stadium (1145BST) just four days after Tonga were dispatched 35-3 in the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido.

As the only player to start all four of the summer’s warm-up Tests, the Pool C showdown will extend his run of starts to 11 having completed 761 of England’s last 800 minutes.

The powerful 26-year-old is seen as vital to the nation’s hopes of lifting the Webb Ellis Trophy on November 2, but his 2018 was ruined by fracturing his arms on three separate occasions.

Vunipola has said he wants to be involved as much as possible after spending the majority of last season in the treatment room and Jones insists regular action is key to ensuring he is at his bulldozing best.

“Billy loves playing rugby, he’s a rugby player. The best way to keep him fit is to play him and he’s an influential player in our team. He wants to play, “Jones said.

When asked if he was taking a risk, Jones said: “It’s a risk Billy going out and eating Kobe beef! It’s much better he plays rugby than goes out and eats beef.”

England: E Daly (Saracens); R McConnochie (Bath), J Joseph (Bath), P Francis (Northampton), J Cokanasiga (Bath); G Ford (Leicester, capt), W Heinz (Gloucester); J Marler (Harlequins), L Cowan-Dickie (Exeter), D Cole (Leicester), J Launchbury (Wasps), G Kruis (Saracens), T Curry (Sale), L Ludlam (Northampton), B Vunipola (Saracens). Reps: J Singleton (Saracens), E Genge (Leicester), K Sinckler (Harlequins), C Lawes (Northampton), M Wilson (Newcastle/ Sale), B Youngs (Leicester), O Farrell (Saracens), A Watson (Bath).