Vunipola: Aura of invincibility is returning

EDDIE Jones has brought the swagger back into English rugby, according to No.8 Billy Vunipola.

Following the 58-15 victory over Fiji, England have won 12 succesive matches – the first was under Stuart Lancaster in the World Cup against Uruguay – to match their record run set in the Clive Woodward era, between March 2002 and August 2003.

The aura of invincibility enjoyed by Martin Johnson’s side is starting to return under Jones and Vunipola is thriving in the new environment.

“Personally, and for the team, he has bred a lot of confidence in us. One of the first things he said was he wanted to bring back that English swagger, not arrogance, just that confidence, and I think we are doing that,” said Vunipola.

“We’re trying to recapture the aura that England had under the days of Martin Johnson and Dallaglio, and I think we are on our way. Eddie wants us to keep working on that. The mind-set with Eddie is that you can always get better in whatever you do.”

Handed a leadership role in the team, Vunipola’s standing as an England player has risen markedly since Jones replaced Lancaster as head coach.

And the World Rugby Player of the Year nominee is relishing the extra responsibility the Australian has put his way.

“Eddie spent a lot of time trying to put a core group of players together to try to breed leaders within the team and luckily I have managed to squeeze my way in there,” the 24year-old said.

“Owen Farrell and Dylan Hartley have done a great job as has Mike Brown at the back. We’ve bought into the direction we’re trying to go in, which is No.1. We a have a long way to go and we’ll just keep trying to improve.”

Having taken the scalps of South Africa and Fiji, England are now looking to complete a clean sweep of autumn wins with victories against Argentina and Australia.