Billy Vunipola has told himself he has it all still to prove if he is to go to the World Cup with England.
The Saracens No.8 reclaimed his Test spot on tour in Australia in the summer and has started the new season with a bang.
On Saturday he built on his man-of-the-match opening day display at Harlequins by helping Sarries come from 12 points down with four minutes left to beat Gloucester and stay unbeaten. After 16 months out of the England team he again looks a ‘must-have’ player and 347 days away from the World Cup that is huge for Eddie Jones.
But Vunipola, 29, has seen this movie before, got ahead of himself and lost his way. This time he is intent on staying grounded.
“I don’t think I re-established myself [in Australia],” he said. “I feel I put myself in position to ask questions to be selected again.
“When you fall over yourself is when you don’t focus on the hurdle that’s right in front of you. The World Cup is obviously a goal but my focus has to be on what's right in front of me.
“I was pleased with how the tour went but I can be better, I can be fitter. That’s the challenge for me.”
The Sydney-born star knows talk is cheap, that it’s on the pitch Jones will judge him. He was reminded of the importance of actions over chat at the StoneX where Gloucester scored 26 unanswered points either side of half-time.
It needed two late tries and a last-gasp touchline conversion by birthday boy Owen Farrell to save the day.
“We did a lot of talking on the pitch and didn’t really back it up,” Vunipola conceded. “In terms of swinging the momentum back into our favour we did that with actions rather than words.”
He now rolls on to Saturday’s heavyweight clash with champions Leicester and a repeat of last season’s grand final.
“The best thing that could have happened to us is what happened in that final,” he said. “It gave us this new focus on ourselves and how we can get better.
“For me I know I can’t just turn up and be like ‘oh yeah I’m going to play today’. Everyone now is fit and strong. I’ve got to look after myself. That’s my focus.”
Saracens 41, Gloucester 39
SARACENS - Tries: Malins, Earl, Hallett. Cons: Farrell 2, Daly. Pens: Farrell 2.
GLOUCESTER - Try: Rapava-Ruskin 2, Tuisue, Harris, Hastings. Cons: Hastings 4. Pens: Hastings 2.
