Billy Vunipola’s joy as England win respect to back up their historic series victory Down Under
Aussies flock to follow the tourists to the beach or town - just weeks after Red Rose arrived Down Under to constant mocking
BILLY VUNIPOLA finally feels England are getting the respect they deserve — after becoming rugby’s laughing stock.
A Six Nations Grand Slam and a series win in Australia have buried the horrific 2015 home World Cup demons that haunted this side.
And after spending two days training at the Coogee Oval — home of boss Eddie Jones’ old club Randwick — fans have been flooding in to see their heroes.
On arrival Down Under, the Red Rose squad were mocked constantly by the host broadcasters.
But the media have since been unusually quiet after England clinched a historic 2-0 series win on Saturday.
Saracens star Vunipola said: “There’s been lots of attention when we’ve been on the beach or in town — because usually no one would care.
“Usually teams beat us and we go back to England.
“Half of me thinks: ‘Good, at least they know we mean business’.
“And half of me thinks: ‘I don’t really care, as long as we are doing the business on the pitch’.
“We said at the start of the tour that we wanted to win 3-0. We can’t let up now because we made promises and we can’t break them.
“It hasn’t been easy. Especially the Second Test, that was a tough old scrap with a lot of niggle.
“As an English pack, we wanted the set-piece to be solid and give the backs a base to play but they’ve not let us have an easy time.”
Although just 23, Vunipola is quickly becoming one of the world’s best No 8s.
The 20-stone bruiser has helped demolish Europe, both for club and country, then seen off the Aussies to guide England to second spot in the world rankings.
But he still does not regard himself as being worthy of a place in the world’s top SEVEN No 8s.
Vunipola said: “There are probably seven guys in front of me. We have the likes of Kieran Read, Toby Faletau, Jamie Heaslip, David Denton, David Pocock and Duane Vermeulen.
“I’m just pushing forward. They’ve been playing for four or five years at the top and I’ve only just come up.
“Eddie wants me to be this player that I don’t even see myself.
“He wants me to be challenging the best No 8s in the world.
“Now that he’s told me, I think why not? That’s my goal, that’s what I’m working towards.
“First I have to get in the team but then I have to push towards more than just playing well for England.”
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Sydney-born Vunipola has avoided contact with his relatives in Australia’s biggest city.
Always battling the bulge, food-lover Vunipola fears his family would try to feed him up ahead of the Third Test at Allianz Stadium on Saturday.
He added: “I’m refusing to even pretend like we know each other. I don’t want to go out of the hotel.
“I need to stay away from my aunties. This week the focus is on Australia and not meeting the family.”