Rugby World Cup: Vunipola admits ‘handbags’ in clear-the-air talks are inspiring England bid
ENGLAND stars “threw handbags” about during intense therapy sessions before the World Cup.
Billy Vunipola has revealed details of clear-the-air talks held to bury the demons of a disastrous 2015 tournament.
Boss Eddie Jones hired psychologists to lead sessions with his squad before they flew out to Japan.
And No 8 Vunipola, 26, said: “The biggest thing we needed to improve was how together we can be.
“Being brutally honest can hurt feelings. Being within the confines of England rugby, a lot of us are very precious.
“At your club, you’re the main man, though when you’re with England, you’re just the next person.
“There were a few handbags thrown around but it was really good. The psychologist gave us the platform to do it.
“It’s hard — men don’t know how to talk about their feelings. It took us a while but we got there.
“Eddie has definitely got the baggage out. I think it has freed us up a lot in terms of our relationships.
“There were a few bumps in the road but with your family, and things like that, there are always mishaps.
“And I think we have better tools to deal with it this time.
“It’s also just listening to each other, caring about their opinion and taking it on board, rather than going back to your room and having a little moan to your mate.
“Everything we feel or think, just put it out to the group. I think this is the first team willing to go deeper than just say, ‘I think you should have hit this ruck’.
“There is a lot more respect in that changing room for each other and it’s been fun.”
At a humiliating 2015 World Cup, England became the first host nation ever to crash out in the group stages.
And the hurt, plus the bitter fallout and infighting within the squad, still fuels Vunipola.
Less than 12 months after, England claimed Six Nations Grand Slam glory and then a first-ever series win against Australia Down Under.
Rugby World Cup predictor game: £10k prize pot up for grabs
1) Come and play our brand new Rugby World Cup game
2) Make pre-tournament and daily predictions to accumulate points
3) Compete for stage-by-stage prize draws worth £500 as part of a £10k prize pot
But even now, he plays with the ammo of an embarrassing World Cup on home soil that made them the laughing stock of world rugby.
The Saracens star said: “It is still vivid in my mind, not something I enjoyed, not something I want to do again.
“What drives me is a lot of doubt — people doubting my abilities but also the team.
“What people say about us can affect you and make you crumble — or helps you to prove everyone wrong. That is something that I like to use.
“And 2015 was massive as we went in with massive expectations and didn’t deliver.
“We know that feeling and don’t want it again.”
Big Billy has now played 11 Tests in a row — and is set for No 12 against Argentina on Saturday. Though he has had his own injury problems and just last year broke his arm THREE times.
So before England smashed USA 45-7 last Thursday, fans wanted to see the 20-stone bulldozer out of the firing line.
But he said: “I need to stop listening to that, because I don’t go into contact as hard if I am worrying about being wrapped up in cotton wool.”
The serious business starts now, though, and England need their talisman to help beat the Pumas.
They would then head into a likely winner-takes-all battle with France to top Pool C and face either Wales or Australia in the quarter-finals.
MOST READ IN SPORT
He added: “When there is a big challenge, we turn up. It gets serious now.
“Before, everyone thought we would win and that was a different type of pressure.
“It’s our turn now. We know there is a big game on the horizon and I am hoping that we can put on a big performance.”