“Year long slog left me in dip,” says Mako Vunipola

Mako Vunipola has revealed how post-Lions fatigue caused his form to dip dramatically.
But Saracens loosehead Vunipola, 23, believes he has now come to terms with the transition as he targets a place on England‘s summer tour.
“Last season was my first full season of international rugby and I had to learn on the job quite quickly,” Vunipola told The Rugby Paper.
“The biggest thing I’ve learnt this year, though, is about fatigue from summer tours and how difficult it is to perform week-in, week-out.
“Coming down from the Lions, it takes a lot out of players physically and mentally because you’re away for so long and play so many games.
“It made that first season a lot longer – a year in all – so players are bound to experience a dip in form.
“That’s when you need to dig in and try to perform to your best, but then I got injured during the autumn which was tough to take.”
In the absence of Alex Corbisiero, Joe Marler was England’s first choice during the Six Nations.
Vunipola, who started just once against Italy after Marler was excused on paternity grounds, admits he could have no complaints.
“The management picked on form and that’s fair enough,” he said. “I was obviously gutted because everyone wants to be playing, but if it’s not broken don’t fix it and Joe was playing well. I was pleased for him.”
Vunipola dreams of featuring for England at next year’s Rugby World Cup, but knows someone’s heart will be broken.
Four into two does not go and he faces stiff challenges from Corbisiero, Marler and Wasps‘ Matt Mullan to make the final cut.
He said: “It’s a dream, but there’s a long road ahead and it’s about looking at my performances for Saracens first, then hopefully a tour to New Zealand.
“We’re lucky with England that we’ve got a lot of strength in depth at loosehead, with Matt Mullan doing well and Alex to come back.
“It’ll be tough on someone at the end of the day and there’s going to be boys left behind, but that’s part of the game and we’re all pros.
“We all know the coaches will select the best team for the World Cup, so it’s about working hard to make sure you’re in the squad.”
Among those props Vunipola most admires is 107-cap New Zealand veteran Tony Woodcock, left, whom he could meet on June’s tour.
He said: “I’ve always enjoyed watching Tony and how he’s played, so it would be great to come up against him this summer. He’s such a dynamic loosehead, but first and foremost he’s a great scrummager and I’ve paid a lot of attention to what he does.
“You want to play against the best and New Zealand are the world champions, but we want to be ambitious and get a series win.”
There is business to attend to for Saracens first, though, as the Men In Black target silverware.
Vunipola adds: “We’re in a great position in the league and are desperate to achieve a winning season.
“Losing three semi-finals last year was a bitter pill to take.”
NEALE HARVEY