Here’s why Gatland didn’t pick big Billy Vunipola | Nick Cain

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England No.8 Billy Vunipola

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 13: Billy Vunipola of England on the charge during the Guinness Six Nations match between England and Italy at Twickenham Stadium on February 13, 2021 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

THERE has been a suggestion from the Harlequins scrum coach, Adam Jones, that Billy Vunipola failed to make the 2021 Lions squad because Warren Gatland holds a grudge.
According to the ‘Hair Bear’ the grudge goes back to the 2017 tour of New Zealand when the England No.8 – who missed it through injury – latched on to Sean O’Brien’s criticism of Gatland’s management style after the drawn series, and added fuel to the fire by saying that if Eddie Jones had been coach, “they would have won 3-0”.
My take on it is that if Gatland thought that big Billy would help the Lions to a series victory o...

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