Easter: Big Billy is still vital to Eddie’s gameplan

NICK EASTER believes Billy Vunipola will still be England’s go-to man at No.8 with Eddie Jones unlikely to shift from his tried-and-tested gameplan.

Vunipola was named in Jones’ 28-man squad but faces stiff competition from the likes of Ben Earl and Mark Wilson as he looks to add to his 56 caps.

“Everyone has their standout seasons and in 2016 he was absolutely phenomenal. His form has dropped off and people are probably still searching for that Billy Vunipola,” said former England No.8 Easter.

“People do him a disservice in terms of they are looking for those blockbusting runs when he is still doing the same job of tying in the defence with his multiple repeat efforts with the carries.

“With this Six Nations I think it is important what Eddie sees from his forward pack within the grand plan of how he will approach games. He employed a kickchase, attritional game in the autumn and they won, and it probably will be very similar in the Six Nations. And if that is the way he is going to go about it, then Billy fits that mould.”

He added: “Don’t underestimate the impact Billy can make, certainly in the collision areas at Test level.

“You don’t see back rowers playing in the wider channels as much as they were before, it is very in your face, and Billy is not a wide channel player. He is a guy to tie them in and does the hard yards very well.

“Eddie is very gainline focused and Billy is probably the only guy to do that. You’ve got Nathan Hughes at Bristol but he has put on 20 kilos too much and he seems out of favour.”

The Six Nations is also set to feature two back row players Easter works with on a daily basis in his role as Newcastle defence coach in Cumbrian duo, Mark Wilson and Gary Graham.

While Wilson’s “phenomenal engine”, work rate and ability to play across the back row have impressed Easter, it is Graham’s fireand-brimstone nature that has caught his eye.

The two could go head-tohead in the opening match.

“I think Gary has been absolutely fantastic. When he plays, the belief in the squad that we can win, whoever it’s up against us, probably doubles.

“He is so no-nonsense when he speaks, nothing too sophisticated – things like ‘let’s go and rip their f ***** heads off ’. He says it with such a passion and desire, you know he is going to lead from the front and the rest of the lads know they have to do the same.

“Scotland need someone like that: someone who doesn’t take a backward step and who’ll give them belief.”