Billy Vunipola will be itching to deliver a statement Rugby World Cup performance against Japan on Sunday.
The Saracens No8 is available for the clash in Nice after completing his suspension for a high tackle on Andrew Porter in England’s 29-10 defeat by Ireland in Dublin last month.
The 30-year-old has undergone World Rugby’s tackle school initiative to reduce his three-week suspension by one match, so has only missed the warm-up defeat by Fiji and Saturday’s World Cup win over Argentina.
Vunipola’s return will offer England a boost in resources, with flanker Tom Curry waiting on a disciplinary hearing in Paris tonight over his own red card in the 27-10 win over the Pumas.
Curry could face a three-match ban if the panel upholds his dismissal for a high tackle on Juan Cruz Mallia.
Vunipola had only just returned to the England fold under new head coach Steve Borthwick when that red card in Ireland halted his building momentum in its tracks. Now the Sydney-born back-row is understood to be determined to repay Borthwick’s faith once again.
England’s head coach still selected Vunipola for the World Cup despite knowing he would miss at least one Pool D encounter.
Borthwick omitted Vunipola from England’s Six Nations squad entirely, instead opting to start Harlequins’ Alex Dombrandt for all five Tests in February and March, but the powerhouse No8 duly leapfrogged Dombrandt to make the World Cup squad.
Vunipola last week also apologised for offending Borthwick in the 2019 World Cup build-up, when the former England captain was forwards coach.
England defence coach Kevin Sinfield said of Vunipola: “He is a big, powerful man, and he has got some wonderful leadership qualities. He lifts people, and once he is on the field he gets sevens and eights out of 10 out of those people around him.”
