Mako Vunipola: Pressure on England’s rugby stars is nothing compared to Gareth Southgate’s World Cup-bound football side
Football fan Vunipola would rather be having a crack at the Boks and trying to repair 46 years of hurt in Johannesburg over ending 52 years without lifting a World Cup
MAKO VUNIPOLA reckons the pressure of facing South Africa is nothing compared to what Gareth Southgate's England stars will experience in Russia.
The Red Rose squad touched down in the southern hemisphere on Sunday morning - with just six days until the first Test against the Springboks at Ellis Park.
And football fan Vunipola would rather be having a crack at the Boks and trying to repair 46 years of hurt in Johannesburg over ending 52 years without lifting a World Cup.
Sending his best to Harry Kane and co, the Saracens prop who spends his time playing Fifa and Football Manager, said: "The pressure for them must be 100 times more than it is for us.
"For us there is high pressure when you come in with England, but when you go back to your club there is not as much scrutiny on what you are doing. You have to be sensible, but I am guessing with them, day in day out, they have to be on the ball.
"I am looking forward to watching the World Cup and I am a big fan. I hope the England boys go out there and do very well - and I am sure they will.
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"They have a great chance and good luck to them. And we are more than happy to show our support: a number of the boys love football and although I have never met any of the footballers, I would love to.
"I don't know where they live... they probably live in the sky somewhere or on a different planet."
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EDDIE JONES always talks about making life uncomfortable for his England players.
So for this tour they are slumming it at the THIRD best hotel in Durban, costing a whopping £460-a-night.
However, the Beverley Hills hotel isn’t quite big enough to cater for all of their media commitments during the three Test series.
So instead, Jones and his squad will use the curry house opposite to hold their daily press conferences. Curry on touring.
BILLY VUNIPOLA and Nathan Hughes are England’s dream boys.
Erm, no, not strippers but – pillow pals.
The two No 8s have been sleeping on the job and making the most of the scheduled snooze-time in the hectic Red Rose schedule.
Wasps back-row Hughes said: “We have a bit of banter and sit around, during downtime we go for a sleep, he likes a sleep and I like a sleep.”
ENGLAND have resisted the urge to beef up their security detail in South Africa.
With the squad mainly based in Durban’s trendy Umlhanga Rocks for most of the series – and jetting in and out of each Test match, Eddie Jones’ side will spend as little time as possible in crime-heavy Johannesburg or Bloemfontein.
A team of three bodyguards, led by ex-Marine Jonathan Thomas, will look after England in the southern hemisphere.
However, Vunipola knows from his Sarries teammates Schalk Burger and Brits that the Rainbow Nation is just a wounded beast and Rassie Erasmus' side can't be written off.
The 27-year-old added: "South Africans pride themselves on how physical they are.
"They wear their hearts on their sleeve and are very emotional people. We are very lucky to have had some great South Africans at the club and able to watch them every day.
"They are the nicest people off the field but on it they will do everything to intimidate or get the upper hand on you.
We know what to expect and we know how much they feed off the emotion of the country.
"We are going to have to be ready for a massive first 20 minutes. They will be coming out guns blazing with a new coach and a new team.
"They are growing in confidence and we have to be ready for that challenge. They are very skilful, but first and foremost they want to hurt you with massive tackles."