sport news CHRIS FOY: Billy Vunipola is out of England exile with heavyweight No 8 ready ... trends now
Eddie Jones added heavyweight clout to England’s squad to tour Australia by bringing Billy Vunipola out of exile on Monday — and then claimed the No 8 can reach a new peak after rediscovering his hunger.
The 29-year-old hasn’t played for his country since the end of last year’s Six Nations, but his ‘exceptional’ performance in the Premiership final against Leicester on Saturday convinced Jones he is ready for an international comeback on next month’s tour.
With Alex Dombrandt joining Sam Simmonds in being ruled out of the three-match series Down Under, the younger Vunipola brother has a prime opportunity to line up against the Wallabies, as the only specialist No 8 selected in the squad.
Eddie Jones has backed Billy Vunipola to reach a new peak following his England recall
Jones decided to give Vunipola another opportunity after he rediscovered his hunger
At first, England’s head coach joked about big Billy’s appetite, saying: ‘I hope he’s not too hungry — he can put on weight!’ But then Jones offered a serious assessment of how the 61-cap forward had managed to regain the inner drive which had been lost for a while.
‘When players have had a lot of success, some are continually hungry for success and can’t live without it,’ he said. ‘Then there are some that sit back a little bit.
‘He probably sat back a little bit and sometimes it takes a reminder to get them to sit forward a bit more. He’s had that reminder and we’re optimistic we’ll see the best of him in the Test arena.’
Saracens' relegation from the Premiership in 2020 had a negative impact on Vunipola
Vunipola has a good chance to line up against Australia as the only specialist No 8 in the squad
Saracens’ relegation from the Premiership in 2020, as punishment for past salary-cap offences, had a negative impact on Billy Vunipola and all of their large England contingent. Jones admitted it took him and the players a while to realise that.
The north London club have been delighted with the thunderous form of the Anglo-Tongan giant at the base of their scrum, during a season when they re-established themselves in the Premiership by finishing second and reaching the final.
Vunipola’s personal contribution in a losing cause against Leicester struck a chord with Jones, in
