Former London Wasps number eight Dan Ward-Smith has backed Billy Vunipola to win international recognition for England.

Vunipola, 20, has impressed for Wasps this season, leading to claims that the powerful youngster will soon make the step up to international level.

"I put a lot of money on Billy going on to win 30-40 caps for England. In my first year at Wasps we hardly ever saw him as he was at Harrow School but he would come along to training occasionally and scare a few people," Ward-Smith told Sky Sports News.

"He is a huge talent and as much as I don't like to call him one, he is a bit of a freak. He is a real physical specimen and comes from good rugby stock.

"There are no excuses for him not to succeed as he has everything. He has a natural offloading game, he is a big ball carrier and likes to put in the big hits."

Billy's brother, Mako Vunipola, was part of the England squad for the summer's Test matches.