Billy Vunipola has his say on the Lions Tour
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England forward Billy Vunipola claims Eddie Jones would have led Lions to 3-0 series win over New Zealand.
The British and Irish Lions would have whitewashed the All Blacks if Eddie Jones was in charge of the touring side. That's the view of England No 8 Billy Vunipola, who didn't make it to New Zealand for the drawn series in winter, after he was ruled out with a shoulder injury.
Vunipola's claim comes after Sean O'Brien said Lions coach Warren Gatland cost the tourists the series after over-training the side in the lead-up to the first and third tests.
"I wasn't there on tour but I guess if he [O'Brien] is saying it and the authority he said it with, he's probably right," Vunipola, who was replaced by James Haskell in the squad, told the BBC.
"For me to sit here and say the Lions would have probably won is wrong. But personally, my opinion is that if Eddie Jones went as coach they would have won 3-0. He is that good."
Australian Jones, citing his four-year contract with England and his desire to make them "the best team in the world", was quick to rule himself out as the Lions' potential coach when speculation around an appointment mounted last year.
"I don't know how he would have done it [beaten the All Blacks 3-0], but Eddie would have found a way," Vunipola said.
"Eddie has changed our mindset at England from always accepting we can't always be too outspoken and confident and he's really helped us kick on."
Meanwhile, British and Irish Lions chief executive John Feehan has defended Gatland and Lions attack coach Rob Howley, who also copped a stinging attack from O'Brien.
"The coaches have a lot to answer for in terms of our attack, rather than Johnny and [Owen] trying to drive it," O'Brien said.
"If I was being critical of any coach, it would be the fact that I think Rob struggled with the group in terms of trying to get stuff across, whereas Johnny and Owen drove everything in the second week, for instance, in our attack and had a better plan in place."
