No team at this World Cup lacks for motivation but, amid the skyscrapers of Japan’s sprawling capital city, England’s desire for redemption is more intense than most. Four years ago they were ejected from their own tournament in the pool stages and a fierce collective determination to put the record straight is increasingly apparent.
Then, as now, England’s campaign hinged on two tough pool games scheduled on consecutive weekends. The memory of those twin 2015 Twickenham defeats against Wales and Australia still grates with all involved and, in the lead‑up to his side’s concluding pool fixtures against Argentina and France, the No 8 Billy Vunipola is eager to exorcise a few ghosts.
Written by Robert Kitson in Tokyo
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/sep/30/billy-vunipola-england-rugby-world-cup under the title “Billy Vunipola: ‘Men don’t know how to talk about their feelings’”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
