Mccall baffled by exclusion of in-form Vunipolas
Mark Mccall, the Saracens director of rugby, is mystified by the absence of Mako and Billy Vunipola from England’s squad for the autumn internationals.
It is the first time that either Vunipola brother, who have a combined 137 caps, have been dropped from a squad by England head coach Eddie Jones. Prop Mako and No8 Billy were outstanding in Saracens’ record-breaking 71-17 defeat of Bath last Sunday, but those performances were not enough to force their way into Jones’s 34-man squad, much to Mccall’s bemusement.
“We are obviously disappointed for Mako and Billy that they haven’t made the squad. But I think there’s one thing not making the squad and the other thing is the way they’re playing,” Mccall said.
“If they weren’t in good form it might be different, but they are; they’re playing well. Anyone who saw their performance at the
weekend and the weekends before that would know that Billy is somewhere near the best he has played.
“Billy has had a full pre-season for the first time in a long time and he’s in the best shape he’s been in for a long time. He’s enjoying his rugby, he’s playing really well and I thought that was one of his best games for a long time.
“Mako also had a hugely-influential game,” added Mccall, who also confirmed that second row Maro Itoje’s shoulder injury was not serious and that he would be available to face Wasps on Sunday.
Hooker Jamie George was also initially left out of Jones’s squad, but has since been recalled after Luke Cowan-dickie suffered an ankle ligament injury. With the other hookers in the squad, Nic Dolly and Jamie Blamire, having a combined total of two caps, Mccall has backed George to make the most of his reprieve.
“Everybody looking at the squad would realise that Jamie is still one of the top two hookers in the country and potentially Eddie was looking to see some younger players,” Mccall said. “But with Luke Cowandickie out, it’s no surprise that Jamie is the person he’s turned to.”
Meanwhile, wing Simon Zebo has been recalled to the Ireland squad for the first time in four years.