21-year-old Saracens prop Mako Vunipola is expected to be included in the England squad for the November internationals to be named on Thursday.
The 130 kg, New Zealand-born son of former Tonga international Fe'ao Vunipola, has widely been touted as the likely replacement for Alex Corbisiero, who is not due to return to action from a knee injury until mid-November.
On Thursday England coach Stuart Lancaster will also announce replacements for Ben Foden, Tom Croft and Rob Webber, who have all been ruled out of the Tests against Fiji, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand.
Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall believes Vunipola is ready to make the step up to Test rugby having already played for England U18s and the U20s although he missed the whole of last season through injury.
"He has risen to every challenge he has had so far," said McCall.
"He has played some big games for us and is an outstanding young talent.
"Corbisiero's injury opens the door for Mako. But Mako is more than ready, he is as good a rugby-playing loosehead as I have come across."
Comments
8intx says...
Jonesy2
Guessing your welsh, wanna check where your wingers were born?
Posted 09:51 25th October 2012
mew2000 says...
Well well The poms poaching anothe kiwi/islander eh? Pot calling the kettle black!
Posted 09:44 25th October 2012
hellovanite says...
As another poster put it roll on the worlds rygby factory supplying the needs of all in sundry...nice :)
Posted 09:23 25th October 2012
sanka69 says...
What about Nick Wood - form loose head till injury last year and not doing too bad so far this year. This bloke looks more like 31 than 21 - thought it was a typo!!!
Posted 09:14 25th October 2012
heart_of_oak says...
How very boring and predictable the nationality references are. Good luck to the guy. I hope he does well. Agree with London Wasp about the picture. He looks a bit younger on the Sarries web site.
Posted 08:26 25th October 2012
pierredelot1 says...
Oh Jonesy, if you keep on moaning you'll get a severe attack of depression. Get over it. Nationality in rugby has nothing to do with percentages.Can't understand why this column continues to print this nonsense as its not going to change. That is until we go back to bartering and get rid of money.
Posted 08:21 25th October 2012
Ferdie says...
he's not exactly 'new' then is he, as article states he played for England U-18 and U-20, not 'poached/pillaged etc. Good luck to him.
At 21 and almost 21 stone he can only get better/bigger!
Posted 07:29 25th October 2012
Melkiwi says...
I've heard this guy in an interview and his accent is very much English. He learnt his trade in England and the English put the time, effort and money in so should have the right to choose him. Rugby is professional and a lot of players who are relocating overseas taking their families with them so we should be surprised seeing guys like him pop up now.
Players have no control where they are born or where they are raised so in my opinion the country that puts the most time into a player should have first dibs. After that the country of birth or country of current resident.
Posted 07:23 25th October 2012
jonesy2 says...
he sounds 50% kiwi and 50% tongan. how interesting that that translates to 100% english. so the english cricket team is south africa rejects and the english rugby team is pacific island rejects. i havent got a problem with it by the way just find it amusing that a nation of how many million needs to do this.
Posted 05:44 25th October 2012
Trader2 says...
Here we go again!!!
Posted 22:53 24th October 2012
melkdave says...
A very good player with alot of potential,English qualified ect having lived most of his life here ,so no complaints from me lol.
Posted 22:48 24th October 2012
TVaddict says...
So we have Vunipola, Marler and Corbisiero all competing for the 1 shirt? All 24 or under? So we have these three around for the next three world cups or so (baring injury,etc...)? Excellent! In the past I thought we lacked depth in this area but now look at the choices!
So what are our options at 3? Obviously Cole is world class but after that it's a bit harder to find options. I guess Wilson and Doran Jones?
Posted 21:46 24th October 2012
leebok says...
really!!!! How long until an English tam takes the pitch with 15 non English born players. Invictus... what ever!!
Posted 19:34 24th October 2012
jmanngod says...
hahah more kiwis propping up their rival teams... roll on the utterly erroneous "you poached the Islands first" comeback!
Posted 19:30 24th October 2012
LondonWasp says...
i don't know if it is that picture, but he does NOT look 21...
Posted 19:28 24th October 2012
Isograford says...
Ha. Well isn't who's making the squads of 'England' lately an interesting turn of events.
Posted 19:11 24th October 2012