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McCall expects Vunipola to face Italy
By Peter Thompson
Mark McCall expects Mako Vunipola to feature for England against Italy next Saturday after the prop made his comeback in Saracens' Premiership defeat at Gloucester on Friday.
Vunipola came through 70 minutes of the Premiership and European champions' 31-23 loss at Kingsholm following a two-month absence due to a knee injury.
The loosehead produced a typically powerful display and Sarries director of rugby McCall thinks he is ready to make an international return when England take on Italy in the Six Nations at Twickenham next Sunday.
McCall said of Vunipola's return: "We had an open mind as to how he was going to go.
"He felt pretty good. I thought he did well, given he's been out for eight or nine weeks. Overall, I thought he was pretty decent.
"I am assuming he is going to play against Italy in some form, and I think the game-time he got will have been important for him."
McCall also provided an update on the fitness of Vunipola's younger brother, Billy, who has not played since November after undergoing knee surgery.
"Billy is going very well. He is definitely ahead of schedule, and it will depend how the next week or so goes regarding when he comes back," said McCall.
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Latest Comments
Can you relay which "Irish" have said this? News to me.
I have stated that it is not the meritocracy it claims to be due to the draw and scheduling.
The 2023 draw was made right after the 2019 WC so I can substantiate that claim. For example Scotland who were 4th seed when the RWC started finished in joined 16th position. This was not a reflection of their ability: the draw meant they had to play two of the big 4 and bear at least one to have a chance of making a top 8.
Careful when you are sh1t talking the Irish. There are a few of us around here now.
Go to commentsMany Ireland related articles go back a very short way, ABs/Bok thumped them for years. Ire have only been a force in rugby for a short while. A recency bias in IRE favour it seems.
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