MAKO READY FOR A STORM
Old man Farrell poses big threat says prop
ENGLAND prop Mako Vunipola says Storm Farrell is heading to Twickenham on Saturday.
Vunipola played under Ireland coach Andy Farrell when he was on the staff at Saracens and when he was part of the England backroom team from 2012 to 2015.
And Vunipola also worked under him on British and Irish Lions tours in 2013 and 2017.
Farrell, below, who will be up against son Owen at the weekend, is a famously up- and- atthem boss, who took over the Irish job after the World Cup and oversaw the 32- 9 demolition of Wales in the Autumn Nations Cup last week.
Farrell also has Mike Catt as his right- hand man – another coach who was part of the England set- up until their 2015 Rugby World Cup implosion.
Vunipola said: “I know that with Andy Farrell that come Saturday they will be mentally prepared to go out there and fight. As a player he was a great leader and he has taken that on when he became a coach.
“They will be ready for a battle and we have to be prepared for that and ready to match them.
“Ireland have been world No1 back in the day and they still have a lot of the players who have been there and done that.
“Mike Catt, as a player, was one of the smartest out there and there is no doubt they will have something for us. So we will have to prepare as well as we can and adapt to anything that they throw at us.
“It will be exciting and it is a game that we can’t wait for.” Ireland skipper Johnny Sexton is out of the game due to hamstring trouble so lock James Ryan, the rising star from Leinster, has been given the armband.
Vunipola, part of the Sarries side who beat Leinster in the Champions Cup in the past two seasons, added: “As a player he has shown he is one of the leading second rows, not only in Europe but in the world. He is going to lead by example.
“He is a massive influence for them in terms of how he gets his hands on the ball, his involvement around the park and his tackles. He is always involved in the big moments for them.”
George Ford has recovered from his Achilles injury and is in the frame to face Ireland.
The fly- half has sat out England’s past two matches but was named last night in a 25- man squad by head coach Eddie Jones.
Northampton’s back row Lewis Ludlam is in the mix after being retained as Jones sent a group of players back to their clubs for the Premiership restart this weekend.
Bath lock Charlie Ewels is a major casualty despite fronting up in last week’s 40- 0 win over Georgia. Flanker Mark Wilson has gone back to Newcastle for rehab but centre Joe Marchant and prop Joe Marler will stay in camp despite being ruled out of Saturday’s fixture.