Vunipola's road to redemption

 

The big No.8 started against the All blacks and the Sringboks in November, but two error-strewn performances saw him dropped from the squad altogether for the matches against Samoa and Australia.

 

However, he is determined to take the positives from the experience and bounce back with some strong performances for Saracens in order to force his way into England coach Stuart Lancaster's plans for the Six Nations.

 

"Maybe being dropped will actually benefit me and turn out to be a good thing because I have learned so much off the back of it," he said.

 

However the Saracens No.8 is a firm believer of whatever doesn't kill you only makes you stronger and has warned England rival Ben Morgan that he is not giving up just yet – far from it.

 

Heading into the November Tests the England No.8 shirt seemed firmly in Vunipola's grasp, but things began to unravel in the November opener against New Zealand, the world champions teaching the 22-year-old a thing or two about ball retention as he managed just four carries as the All Blacks won at Twickenham.

 

Things failed to improve as South Africa also left Twickenham triumphant the following weekend, with Vunipola dropped altogether for England's win over Samoa and Morgan chosen to start.

 

In an effort to force his way back in Stuart Lancaster plans while back with Saracens in the Premiership, Vunipola suffered concussion against Northampton Saints which again meant he played no part as England signed off from 2014 by putting the Wallabies to the sword.

 

While Vunipola was on the sidelines Morgan was staking his claim to be Lancaster's go-to man for the England No.8 jersey.

 

The Gloucester man scored two tries against Australia en route to being named man of the match against Australia – but Vunipola insists he is not giving up without a fight.

 

"The autumn was certainly a massively frustrating time for me but at the same time it was also a huge learning curve," Vunipola said.

 

"I think heading into the autumn I maybe got carried away with my form for Sarries and maybe I was just a bit too over-confident in myself, not necessarily on the pitch but perhaps more off it with my religion and faith and everything.

 

"But maybe being dropped will actually benefit me and turn out to be a good thing because I have learned so much off the back of it.

 

"I have never been in a situation like that, just for whatever reason I couldn't transfer my club form over to my country, but sometimes it goes like that and you need to get back on the horse and I am excited about doing that.

 

"I am still learning and I have a long way to go but I am determined to win back my place and I will do all I can to do exactly that," he said.

 

Vunipola admitted that it will be hard work getting the jersey back from Morgan, but made it clear that he would do whatever it takes to play for England in the Six Nations.

 

"Ben is a very good player and he showed that last month and it is great that we can push each other on. We both want to play but only one can so we will both be trying our hardest to make sure we are the ones with the shirt in time for the Six Nations."

 

Being dropped is more than enough motivation for Vunipola to once again reach the heady heights he hit when he burst on the international scene last year.

 

But just in case he needed it, a fast approaching Six Nations followed by a World Cup on home soil is giving the former Wasp that extra boost.

 

And he reminded everyone of his talents in Europe just last weekend, scoring the third try in a man-of-the-match performance as Saracens put Sale Sharks to the sword in the European Cup.

 

"One lesson I learned from the autumn is that you can't think too far ahead, you have to take each game as they come and focus on that," Vunipola added.

 

"I know I have to play well to even be included in the squad for the Six Nations but I do keep thinking about what playing a World Cup game at Twickenham would be like.

 

"I would love to play in a World Cup in England, in an England shirt, and that gives me extra motivation to get back in the side," he added.