When Billy Vunipola last played at a full Twickenham a global pandemic was about as likely as Saracens getting relegated.
His club were kings of Europe, England were weeks from a World Cup final and coronavirus did not exist. Vunipola could not have imagined how life was about to change and that it would be more than three years before he saw 80,000 again at the home of English rugby.
“This is almost like a new debut for me,” said the big number eight, gearing up for Sunday’s clash with Argentina. “I’m pretty pumped about this game.” It is his 30th Test at Twickenham yet this one, he says, feels special for the route it has taken to reach it.
