England’s defence of their Six Nations title has been handed a major boost with Billy Vunipola in contention to make his Saracens comeback on Sunday, meaning he could potentially face Scotland the following weekend.
Vunipola, who has been sidelined with a knee injury since November, would be in the frame for the Calcutta Cup match if he comes through Saracens’ trip to Newcastle unscathed.
Eddie Jones has lamented the absence of Vunipola’s ball-carrying and, while the 24-year-old was not initially expected to feature in the Six Nations, he has taken a full part in training at Saracens this week.
Jones had been hopeful Vunipola would be available to face Ireland on 18 March and last Friday he said: “It’s pretty positive. We’re working with Saracens to see when he’s going to be available to play. We haven’t written off the hope he’ll play in the Six Nations. He’s looking fit.”
Vunipola’s return would be welcomed by Jones, whose side can equal the record number of consecutive wins by a tier‑one nation, 18, when they face Scotland. Nathan Hughes has played all three Six Nations matches at No8 so far but with Chris Robshaw also sidelined and James Haskell deemed not fit enough to start against France or Wales, the England back row has had an inexperienced feel to it.
Vunipola had surgery after picking up the injury in the autumn victory against Argentina and last week underwent a medical assessment at England’s Bagshot training base. His brother Mako also missed the first part of the Championship with a knee injury but made his return off the bench against Italy last Sunday, having played 70 minutes for Saracens the previous weekend.
Mako Vunipola is also set to feature for Saracens against Newcastle as one of six players released from England’s training camp in Oxford to play in the Premiership. Saracens are due to name their team to face Newcastle on Friday.
Hughes has endured a mixed competition so far – he was outshone by Louis Picamoles against France and, while to his credit he stuck to the task in Cardiff, he struggled at times against Wales’s vaunted back row. Against Italy, meanwhile, he was error prone, so if Vunipola proves his fitness on Sunday it raises the prospect of him playing a part against Scotland.
After England’s 21-16 win against Wales last month, Jones said: “You are looking at a deficit of 25 carries a game without the Vunipolas … [Billy] might get back for Ireland – he’d be pretty useful off the bench, 150kg.”
