RED RAG TO A BULL

How England's run of red cards helped them cope in a crisis... and get big Billy fighting fit

-  ADAM HATHAWAY

BILLY VUNIPOLA insists England's dismal run of reds in the warm-ups has given them a shot in the arm as they head to their last World Cup pool match unbeaten.

The Saracens No.8 was dismissed for a high shot on Ireland's Andrew Porter last month and skipper Owen Farrell saw red a week earlier against Wales.

By the time they pitched up in France, they were so used to playing with men down that they hardly missed a beat when Tom Curry was sent off three minutes into their opening 27-10 win over Argentina.

The downside of being banned is that non-playing squad members are left to be dealt with by fitness expert Aled Walters, who shows no mercy on them. But, as he gears up to face Samoa on Saturday week, Vunipola says he is in the shape of his life and the dismissals did England a favour in the long run.