Billy Vunipola wants to woo Twickenham crowd like he used to show off to impress girls at school
BILLY VUNIPOLA promised to bring the va-va-voom to Twickenham – just like when he used to try to impress the girls at school.
For the first time since March, 2,000 England fans will head to the home of rugby for Sunday’s Autumn Nations Cup final.
And even though France are fielding a weak team, no 8 Vunipola says Eddie Jones’ side want to produce their own magic after coming under-fire for playing boring, but winning, rugby.
Big Billy said: “Having fans there is massive because they add to the atmosphere.
“When people are there, we want to entertain them. It’s a bit like when you were younger and the girls used to turn up to PE and you always wanted to show off. It is a bit similar to that.
It’s definitely a big deal, irrelevant of how it’s portrayed and irrelevant of all the talk about what team France are putting out. It’s a big game.
Anthony Watson
“Having fans just makes the atmosphere – even if you are watching as a TV viewer – it’s way better and way more interesting. I’m pumped to have crowds back.”
Vunipola’s teammate Anthony Watson also rubbished claims that England are playing for a tin-pot trophy.
It is the Six Nations winners’ first final since losing the World Cup to South Africa just over a year ago.
And another victory will make sure they end the year with just one defeat – against Les Bleus in their first game of 2020.
Winger Watson added: “It’s a final and there’s a trophy to be won at the end of it – and the previous final we didn’t win.
“It’s about going out there and getting used to these finals and putting our game plan into force, which is something we felt we didn’t do in the last final.
“We lost to France, which obviously helps the motivation, we also lost the last final we played in. It is a big deal.
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“We want to win trophies, irrelevant whether it’s the Nations Cup or the Six Nations, a tournament that’s just been made.
“Putting yourself in finals is where you want to measure yourself as a player. It’s the highest pressure game you can play in and it’s a real test of you as a player and as a team.
“It’s definitely a big deal, irrelevant of how it’s portrayed and irrelevant of all the talk about what team France are putting out. It’s a big game.”