‘World class’ Vunipola flying again – Sanderson
BILLYVunipola is ready to brush off his Lions disappointment and reassert his position as the world's dominant No.8, according to Saracens coach Alex Sanderson.
Vunipola missed the Lions tour in order to undergo surgery on a longstanding shoulder injury that left him playing in agony towards the end of last season.
However, Sanderson told The Rugby Paper: “Billy's flying again now; he's back running and is getting back into rugby so he'll be good for the start of the season.
“He'd been playing for quite a long time with a loose shoulder that was subluxing and popping in and out a bit, but because he's a tough lad he just cracked on.
“He could have gone with the Lions and might have been able to get through a game or two, but he certainly wouldn't have lasted the tour so in a way it was taken out of his hands from a medical point of view because his shoulder needed tightening up.
“The Lions is the pinnacle for a player like Billy, who's achieved so much and put everything into last season for Saracens and England. But he'd actually given so much of his body that in the end there was probably an element of relief that he didn't go.”
Sanderson explained: “Speaking to lads who went on the tour, it was a real stretch after a ten-month season and they were really digging in. We've got to look after these lads now because they could be mentally scarred, but Billy will start the season fresh.
“He's been so good for us over the last year and has grown as a leader through the process of being a vicecaptain with England. Mentally, he's in a really good place right now and he hasn't wallowed in his Lions disappointment or felt bitter about it.”
As a further silver-lining for England, Sanderson added: “I don't think there's a No.8 as good as Billy, with his physicality, carrying ability and his ability to hit and get over the ball. Is he the worldclass finished article England need? I think he probably is.”
