VUN THAT GOT AWAY
Mako relives Springbok hell
MAKO VUNIPOLA admits he can’t look at a South Africa shirt without thinking of his worst day in rugby.
The Saracens prop faces the Springboks tomorrow for the first time since the 2019 World Cup final.
And the 31-year-old – one of four players recalled by Eddie Jones – says he has painful memories of the 32-12 stuffing inflicted on England by the Boks in Yokohama.
“You see those shirts and you think back to it,” said Vunipola (inset).
“That was the toughest rugby experience I’ve had. That game will stay with me for the rest of my life, not only because of how we lost but because of how they imposed themselves on us. Part of that disappointment is what might have been but the biggest part is always going to be the way we performed.
“If we played our best and they still beat us, I could live with that.
“But the fact we didn’t fire a shot and didn’t adapt on the day, that’s the toughest thing to reflect on.”
England were never at the races after losing tighthead Kyle Sinckler to concussion in the third minute.
Without him their props gave up five penalties. Jones later wrote an autobiography in which he admitted that picking Vunipola ahead of Joe Marler was one of two “selection mistakes” he made for that game.
“We weren’t able to perform to our best when it was most needed,” said Vunipola.
“You couldn’t help but think, ‘If we don’t win this what is going to happen?’ That’s only human nature.”
The fact he wins his 74th cap this weekend says a lot about his character. In all, nine of the final line-up in Japan – including the starting front row – begin the game at Twickenham.
England have won only five of 12 games this year and need a performance of real substance to reassure them they are heading in the right direction.
Having failed to beat anyone but Japan this autumn, Jones has opted to start Vunipola and hooker Jamie George, and reassign Ellis Genge and Luke Cowan-Dickie to roles off the bench.
Jack Nowell – like Genge one of Owen Farrell’s vice-captains – is also relegated out of the side to make way for Tommy Freeman on the right wing.
Alex Coles replaces Sam Simmonds at blindside flanker against a Boks side missing six regulars due to the Test being outside the international window.