Saracens loosehead reaping the benefits of his injury-forced break
Nick Cain talks to Saracens prop Mako Vunipola ahead of today’s clash
MAKO Vunipola is a trail-blazer. He has something that even the All Blacks do not have, and it is why the Saracens and England loose-head is not only so crucial to the reigning champions winning their European Cup quarter-final against Glasgow today, but also to the Lions’ hopes of victory in New Zealand this summer.
The Saracens prop has a sleight of hand that some Test fly-halves would envy. Add to that a 19 stone frame (121kg) and low-slung centre of gravity that makes him a human bulldozer when it comes to turning defensive lines into rubble, and you have a combination of skill and power that is often unstoppable.
It makes the elder of the two Vunipola brothers an asset that is as invaluable as his higher profile No.8 younger brother, Billy. This is because it gives the Lions an advantage in the tight five over New Zealand – who have two typically combative loose-heads in Joe Moody and Wyatt Crockett – but neither of whom have the Mako factor as a ball carrier.
It is rare that New Zealand are outgunned when it comes to forward carrying power. However, a front row assault of a rampaging Mako Vunipola alongside Ireland’s powerful Jack McGrath on the left-hand side of the scrum, as well as his barrelling fellowcountryman Tadgh Furlong at tight-head, has the potential to give the Lions mighty leverage.
Glasgow will not need any warning of what Vunipola is capable of, but if they did want a quick reminder then video footage from Saracens home victory over the Scarlets earlier in this European Cup campaign would do the trick. Receiving the ball from Michael Rhodes on the edge of the 22, Vunipola duped the Saracens defensive line with a flashing dummy before shrugging off two tacklers as he stormed through to score a spectacular try.
It continued an unbeaten run in the tournament which now stands at 15 matches. However, when Mark McCall was asked this week whether he thought Mako was versatile enough to play centre, the Saracens rugby director drew a line. “I wouldn’t say that. But Mako is a brilliant rugby player. He is as good a passer (as most centres)…he’s not just a powerful carrier but it’s how he uses his body to get into spaces. He’s a great decision-maker on the ball, and a brilliant defender.”
It is rare that two rivals competing for the same national shirt will give the other anything more than the most miserly morsel of recognition, but the point of difference that Vunipola brings is so impressive that it was highlighted by Joe Marler a few weeks ago.
With the Saracens prop coming back from a two-month absence after a knee injury to take his place on the England bench against Italy, Marler, who was starting in the Red Rose No.1 jersey, hailed Vunipola as the global pacesetter in the position.
Marler said that Vunipola has, “set the standard for what a loose-head is”. He also talked openly about Vunipola not just doing the job at the set piece, but about the “add-ons” in his game that have left his prop rivals struggling to keep up.
Although Vunipola stayed as bench cover for Marler up to and including the 18 match record-ending reverse by Ireland in Dublin a fortnight ago, he says he is relishing the rest of the season despite the disappointment of a second Grand Slam going west.
Today, for a start he can compare himself against Scotland’s highlyrated tight-head Zander Fagerson,
right, who starts for Warriors. With Saracens in pursuit of a second European and domestic double, as well as a chance this summer in New Zealand to add to the three Lions Test capsVunipola won in the 2013 series victory over Australia, he says he is raring to go.
“Hopefully having that injury and lay-off will bear some fruits. I probably feel better than earlier in the season. I feel ready to go now and to play some games for Saracens after the Six Nations. I’m excited for the run-in and we’ve got a big test this weekend against Glasgow. They’ve been a very good side this year, so I’m looking forward to that.”
Vunipola’s reflections on the Six Nations carry no frills: “Missing the first two games meant I was always on catch up, and getting up to speed. For the team it was disappointing because we had the chance to win a second Grand Slam, but credit to Ireland and the way they played. They were deserved winners. We knew we weren’t good enough on the day, and we have to reflect on why that was the case.”
When it is suggested to him that the loss to Ireland could cost England places on this Lions tour, in the way the Grand Slam loss to Wales in 2013 did, Vunipola shrugged it off. “As a player you can’t think too much about the Lions. That’s when you trip up. As players we just try to play as well as we can. There was never a thought of trying to perform as well as we could for Lions selection – it was more of a case of playing as well as we could for England and getting the chance to create some history. Unfortunately, we didn’t do that.” However, he acknowledged that England’s defeat by the Irish was a timely reminder to Saracens of just how hard it is to back up big successes. “We knew that beforehand, especially when we had to win the Premiership last year against a tough Exeter team. This season has been even harder because we’ve had more injuries than last year. Teams are playing better against us and also know us better. You always have that target on
“We enjoy that challenge knowing every team wants to play their best game against us”
your backs as well. We knew that coming in to the season. We enjoy that challenge knowing that every team wants to play their best game against us. We have to match that.”
Vunipola was also quick to point out that England’s recent record win over Scotland would have no bearing against Glasgow. “We’re not taking anything from England v Scotland, this is Saracens v Glasgow. Even though they have a lot of Scottish internationals in their team they’re coached differently, and work with each other every day. They are more in tune with what they do as a team rather than having three or four weeks together with Scotland.”
Although Vunipola says he is mentally refreshed after his two months on the mend, his response to the new 11 month Northern Hemisphere season is tepid.
“As players you hear about this 11 month season and you think ‘how are we going to get through that?’ But it is not my job to plan the season. The high-ups make their call, but for players it is difficult.”
The Saracens prop say his fitness has improved markedly, and so has the amount of time he spends on personal pre and post match preparation: “The amount of work I do before training now is a lot different to what it was three or four years ago. It takes a lot longer to get the body going, and that is part of professional rugby. Just mobility and stuff like that. There are parts of me that take a bit to get going with the past injuries with my knees. It is just to fire up the body. What you do away from the rugby pitch is more important now than it ever was.”
He adds: “As players you have that competitive edge...you want to be out there every time. Every player wants to play every game – and that is the problem.”
Vunipola says that the 2017 Lions tour has him primed for action. “After having one taste I definitely want some more, but I know how tough it is to get the call-up. In 2013 it was a bit of a shock. I was not expecting anything. It is just playing as well as I can for Sarries – going out there and doing my job to the best of my ability, and let those things take care of themselves.”
If Magic Mako is at his best for the Lions this summer, it will be New Zealand who are in for a shock.