Billy Vunipola is staying defiant before Sunday’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final against opponents fast becoming others’ second favourite’ team
Billy Vunipola, at England training on Tuesday, says Steve Borthwick’s side are ‘quietly and confidently going about our work’.Billy Vunipola, at England training on Tuesday, says Steve Borthwick’s side are ‘quietly and confidently going about our work’.campaign will end abruptly on Sunday and the postmortems are unlikely to be comfortable. Overwhelm Fiji in their quarter‑final, however, and fans at home and abroad may finally start to perceive them differently.
Vunipola, a contender to start if England want to bring some extra physicality to the match on Sunday, was referring to the widespread belief that England are in the weaker half of the draw and will find it tough, should they progress, to beat the winners of the heavyweight last‑eight games involving Ireland v New Zealand and France v South Africa.
The No 8 says the squad are well aware of the equation – “If you don’t win this week you go home, plain and simple” – but even some of their most loyal, longstanding followers have been having their faith sorely tested by England’s mostly risk-free gameplan and lack of attacking fluency.
In that respect the appointment of France’s Mathieu Raynal as referee is intriguing, not least because he was also the official in charge of England’s pool game against Argentina when Tom Curry was given a red card. England successfully overcame that setback, nullifying the threat of Julián Montoya and others, and Richard Wigglesworth, England’s attack coach, knows the contact area will be huge again. “Fiji tend to just compete and then work it out from there.
“He’s a winner. Under the harshest of pressures and biggest of moments he tends to get better and has more of an impact on the people around him as well. We know what gets said about Owen. He’s the highest‑ever points-scorer for England, delivers time and time again and those players tend to catch the most flak for some reason. We’ve got one of the best to do it, we’re lucky to have him. He will no doubt have a massive impact on this week and this game.
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