Mako set for big late push after energiser in Tenerife sun
WORKHORSE England prop Mako Vunipola says he has no desire to rest and will fight tooth and nail to be part of a Red Rose revival in South Africa.
Lions loosehead Vunipola is one of a number of England players who may be stood down this summer following marathon campaigns spanning four seasons.
As well as his Saracens commitments, Vunipola has featured non-stop for England since the 2015 World Cup, starting all three Tests in Australia in June 2016 and likewise for the Lions during last year’s gruelling trip to New Zealand.
Despite playing 74 minutes of last week’s torrid Champions Cup defeat to Leinster, the all-action Vunipola insists: “I feel good. As I’ve got older I’ve got better at managing myself and I’m looking after my body a bit more.
“I got to Tenerife for a bit of sun after the Six Nations and mentally I’m in a better place at this time of the year than I have in the last two or three. I’m just happy to be doing my best for my teams and right now I’m really enjoying it.
“You’d prefer it if Saracens were still in the Champions Cup, but now we’ve got a chance to focus fully on winning the Premiership.”
The tireless loosehead intends gunning for his 50th Red Rose cap when England face the Springboks in Johannesburg on June 9.
Vunipola, 27, said: “I haven’t talked to Eddie Jones, I’ve only seen what’s been in the media and, I’ll be honest, any chance I get to go on tour with the country is an honour and it’s not really my decision to make anyway.
“Right now, in my head, I’m preparing for these final few big games for Saracens and then we’ll see what happens with England this summer.
“In 2013, with the last Lions tour, I was younger and just enjoyed my time and just got on with it, but now I’m a bit more experienced I realise how hard it is for players to play at that level and any chance you get you want to take.
“I love playing for England and I’m still gutted about how the Six Nations went, so I want to be in South Africa to help put the team back where it should be.”
England have won just three of 13 Tests against the Springboks in South Africa, with their last victory coming in Bloemfontein during a drawn series in 2000.
The only tour they have won was a one-off match in Johannesburg in 1972.
Vunipola, who did not feature during the last away series in South Africa six years ago, added: “It’s a tour to relish, which is the most exciting thing. England haven’t won a tour in South Africa for a while so we know how hard it will be.
“You want to play in the best arenas so if I do have the opportunity to go there it would be great to be part of something really special.”