Earlier today it was announced that Billy Vunipola’s leg injury sustained against Wales on Saturday is enough to keep him out for the rest of the world cup after the full extent of the knee ligament problem was unearthed. This injury could save England. As a fan, spectator and commentator on rugby you never want to see players out with an injury, especially at a World Cup. Luckily for Billy Vunipola he is only 22 years which should mean he will get at least one more World Cup in the future.
His replacement is the Harlequins Back Row: Nick Easter.
In rugby, and a continual theme of the early stages of this World Cup is that injuries which have been sustained by players are decimating teams. Wales lost Leigh Halfpenny, Jonathan Davies and Rhys Webb before the tournament had even started, South Africa have lost their Captain; Jean De Villiers, this weekend, a weekend in which Wales also lost Scott Williams and Hallam Amos, Ireland are worried about Rob Kearney and England have no idea whether Jonathan Joseph will be back if they manage to qualify from the group. All in all just these injuries total 374 caps lost to the brutality of this sport. None of the replacements which have been called in for each of these injuries actually make the team undeniably better. Except for one in my opinion: Easter for Vunipola.
This injury could be the silver lining that England need. It could be the moment that we look back upon and say that was when England saved themselves. Nick Easter was brutally axed from the England set-up back in 2011 after England’s awful World Cup showing in New Zealand under Martin Johnson. I’m not too sure whether he deserved to be axed from the team when Stuart Lancaster came in, however it says everything about the kind of player he is that he is still knocking, and has now broken through the door four years later, at the age of 37.
Nick Easter is a fantastic back row forward. He has supplied me with the second most pleasing moment to date in England’s World Cup history (no prizes for guessing the first…) when, in 2007, he stole a ball out of ruck to help push Australia back when it looked like England were about to concede a certain try. Johnny Wilkinson had just slotted away a penalty and the score was 10-9 to Australia. The restart came and Nick Easter caught the ball surrounded by Green and Gold shirts before being wrestled to the floor. Australia then turned the ball over and George Gregan moved it infield. After a few very frantic passes Palu received the ball and before you know it he is tackled by Nick Easter who made up all the ground before stripping the ball in the tackle. He then springs to his feet and looks at the referee who shouts “Its ok!!!!!!” and Easter promptly picks it up and re-secures it, allowing England to hurriedly clear their lines.
I have no idea why this moment has stayed with me all these years but it was Back Row Forward play at its best. The desire to get back, make the tackle and then have the clarity of thought to stand up, ask the referee if he can play the ball, and then secure it shows how class a player he truly was. When you take into consideration the pressure of the situation: it’s a World Cup Quarter Final, England have just got to within one point of Australia and Australia have England scrambling in defence 10 meters from their own try line: its simply an epic piece of play and an even better piece of timing.
I feel it is this calmness in pressure situations that England have always missed under Lancaster. Its the knowledge of how to ‘play the game’ with the referee, and how to manage situations which essentially cost England once again on Saturday.
I actually thought Billy Vunipola had a very good game on Saturday. On my Twitter account (@adamberryactor) I even voted him as Englands Man of the Match – but after more consideration and some wise words from other journalists I am aware I was watching him with Saracens tinted glasses on. He made a lot of yards but then again so did a lot of England players in the first half. He ended the game with 112 yards this Tournament which puts him in the top 20 to date which isn’t too bad for a Number 8. But he also conceded a key penalty at a key time which cost England dearly.
The like for like replacement might not even be the key to my argument. If England could have both Billy and Nick Easter on the field it would probably work well – but someone has to give way.
Nick Easter has performed very well in two World Cups previously. He has performed outstandingly for Harlequins year on year and most of all Chris Robshaw will respect his opinion and will undoubtedly listen to him at key moments in the game – namely the last twenty minutes. I can’t see Nick Easter lasting the full 80 minutes, however if he comes on for the last 20 minutes I think he could end up being a key player coming on at a key time in an absolutely vital match.
This leaves Ben Morgan to start – he had a quiet game against Fiji however I prefer that to an error strewn one, though that was what cost him his place against Wales. Hopefully he will have learnt his lesson, and will be ready to go against Australia and can leave it all on the field for a full hour – to then allow Nick Easter to take over. Listening to what the England camp has said about Easter it points to the fact they are considering starting him as Andy Farrell said “It is a like for like replacement” – only time will tell.
I really believe that Nick Easter can be the difference against Australia. I’m not expecting him to score a hat trick, or even to make 15 tackles but at the moment when it really matters he will know how to kill the game. As England fans, lets hope Lancaster can get him on the field in a position to be able to do just that.
“Main Photo”
