Mako Vunipola is extra appreciative of being able to play at the World Cup after witnessing his cousin, Wales No8 Toby Faletau, go through the pain of missing out.
Faletau has been ruled out of the tournament in Japan, which starts next month, after requiring surgery on a collarbone injury picked up in training.
Vunipola was fearful he could have been in the same position as his cousin after tearing his hamstring during Saracens’ Champions Cup Final win in May.
However, the prop has made a full recovery and is in line to feature against Ireland on Saturday at Twickenham in what is the third of England’s four World Cup warm-up matches.
And, having seen his cousin forced out of the tournament through injury, Vunipola is thankful he has the chance to play in his second World Cup.
“In 2015, I had only just started my international career and when you are that age you think you have loads more World Cups coming around,” he said.
“I’m gutted for Toby and it reinforces that any day could be your last, so you try to enjoy it as much as you can, and enjoy the games when you do play.
“Now I’m 28, with a few more injuries under my belt, and for us as a team we have talked about not taking anything for granted.
“Every day, I have to make sure I am doing my best to improve - and every time I play, I play like it’s my last game.”
