Woodman: Mako Is Key To Success
The Rugby Paper|September 22, 2019
Trevor Woodman says the fitness of powerhouse loosehead Mako Vunipola will be critical to England’s chance of success in Japan.
Neale Harvey
Woodman: Mako Is Key To Success

World Cup winner Woodman wants the side to take inspiration from their Sarries sextet of Owen Farrell, Mario Itoje, Jamie George, George Kruis and the Vunipolas, Billy and Mako.

Ahead of today’s opener against Tonga, Woodman, now coaching at Gloucester, said: “England have got a great chance and look the strongest of the northern hemisphere teams.

“They have a great setpiece, great individual ball-carriers and they’ve got that all-round game among the forwards as well. If they get Mako back on the loosehead after his hamstring trouble, his carry-tackle power is immense. He’s crucial to their success, when he’s playing, generally the team wins.

“And the back-line has big men and threats everywhere. They have a power game in attack and defence to go a long way in this tournament and win it.”

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