SM
Bayern vs. Augsburg: 21 hrs 23 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews

Billy Vunipola: 'I have been playing rubbish'

:Headline: Billy Vunipola: 'I have been playing rubbish': ID:436496: from db_amp
The number eight has claimed he has been a 'coward' because of fatigue as his squad place has come into question.

Billy Vunipola admits he has been "playing rubbish" and blames the collapse in form that has endangered his England place on being a "coward" due to fatigue.

Vunipola has been a shadow of the bulldozing number eight famed for powering Eddie Jones' team onto the front foot, making only 10 metres in three carries in the Guinness Six Nations opener against Scotland.

Against Italy a week later he produced eight carries for 31 metres – also a poor return by his standards – and in both games he endured the indignity of being replaced before the final quarter.

"I just haven't played well at all. And I could play a hundred more games at the level I am playing at now and I'd still be rubbish, so it's not about playing yourself into form.

"At the moment, I guess because of my lack of game time, I am trying to put myself in positions where I don't have to run as much, so that I still get the ball and have the same effect.

"There's a great NFL coach (Vince Lombardi) who said that fatigue makes a coward out of everyone and I guess I've been a bit of a coward in the last two weeks because I've been hiding from being fatigued."

To illustrate the extent of his slump Vunipola has been sent encouraging texts by his parents, while at home the birth of his first child in November has created unexpected challenges.

"You know you're playing badly when your mum and dad are the only ones texting you, saying they love you and we are here to support you!" he said.

Billy Vunipola is England's strongest carrier (Adam Davy/PA)

"Three weeks ago was the first time that I left my wife and kid. It was the first time that that ever happened and I guess I never truly left that person behind – I just turned up to camp and I was still the person I was at home.

"It sounds weird, but you need to detach yourself from your wife a bit to focus wholeheartedly on what is going on here."

Jones has been one of Vunipola's biggest supporters and Vunipola wants to repay England's head coach.

"At the moment Eddie probably thinks someone has cloned me and the person he thought he had in his team is at home and the person that isn't the person he thinks I am is here," Vunipola said.

"Eddie deserves a performance off us as a group of players and I am no different. That's something I am 100 per cent sure of."

amp_article__436496 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2021-02-23 22:19:45:
html db last update - 2021-02-23 22:19:45 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Billy Vunipola

Click here for more stories about England

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .