Billy Vunipola

England fans exasperated by Vunipola's status as the only player to start all four warm-up games

 The England coaching team have defended their over-reliance on Vunipola, saying the No8 needs to play regularly as he gets better with every game despite fears from fans of fatigue and injury. 

The Saracens star has had his fair share of injury troubles over the past couple of seasons, particularly with his knees and breaking an arm on multiple occasions. 

With England’s World Cup campaign starting less than three weeks, England fans on social media cannot understand why he is still being played. 

Vunipola out to create a legacy

England were humbled on home soil in 2015, finishing third in Pool A, with Wales and eventual runners-up Australia securing progression to the knockout stages.

On Monday, Vunipola was included in Eddie Jones' 31-man squad for the upcoming tournament having starred in Sunday's 33-19 defeat of Six Nations champions Wales.

Despite their disappointment in 2015, Jones' side will be favourites to progress from Pool C, with France, Argentina, United States and Tonga their opponents, and Vunipola does not believe England's failure in the last World Cup will haunt them in Japan.

Saracens hopeful over Vunipola

The powerful back-row forward returned from a fractured forearm suffered in January to feature in the 51-14 victory over London Irish on Sunday.

There were fears the 25-year-old had swiftly fallen victim to yet another fitness setback after he experienced an issue on Wednesday.

And while Vunipola is indeed set to miss Saturday's regular-season Premiership finale against Gloucester, Saracens' director of rugby McCall claimed his star should be back for the team's subsequent last-four showdown against Newcastle Falcons or Wasps. 

Vunipola suffers fractured arm

The back-row only returned from a three-month spell on the sidelines with a knee injury in the Premiership victory against Wasps last weekend and suffered another cruel setback at the Liberty Stadium.

Vunipola was replaced at half-time in the Champions Cup clash, which ended 15-15, and Saracens on Sunday revealed that an X-ray showed he had fractured his forearm, just three weeks before England start the defence of their Six Nations title against Italy in Rome.

McCall hails 'extraordinary' Vunipola

Vunipola had not featured for Sarries since suffering a knee injury in September and was reportedly in danger of missing the start of the Six Nations next month.

His return in Sunday's impressive victory put any doubts about his participation with England to bed as he produced a trademark all-action display at the Ricoh Arena.

And that was a joy to behold for McCall, who also welcomed back Maro Itoje from a broken jaw.

"I thought he [Vunipola] was great," the club's director of rugby told BT Sport.

Billy Vunipola: Saracens and England player would take pay cut to avoid burnout

Vunipola learned on Sunday he will be out for four months after injuring a knee during Sarries' defeat of Sale.

The 24-year-old had only recently returned after a year blighted by knee and shoulder problems, the latter forcing him out of the Lions tour.

Speaking prior to his latest setback, he said "something has to change".

"I didn't enjoy being on the surgery table twice in one year and that's supposed to be deemed as normal," he told BBC Radio 5 live's Rugby Union Weekly podcast.

Vunipola back in October

The barnstorming number eight missed the British and Irish Lions tour due to the injury, having returned from a four-month layoff due to a knee problem in March.

Sarries director of rugby Mark McCall confirmed the England international is not scheduled to return until October, although he did not rule out Vunipola playing before then.

"He's in great condition at the moment and chomping at the bit," McCall said.

"Billy's due back some time in October, but in true Billy style he'll make it back considerably before that. 

Vunipola out of Lions tour

Vunipola had been nursing the injury throughout the Aviva Premiership while playing for Saracens.

England backrower James Haskell will replace Vunipola and will join the camp following the Premiership final this weekend.

Vunipola, who was born in Australia, has played 34 tests for England and was expected to be the starting number eight for the Lions in their three-test series against the All Blacks.

Lions coach Warren Gatland said he was disappointed for Vunipola, who had been looking forward to joining the squad

Vunipola urges England to push on

Eddie Jones' side clinched the Six Nations title on Saturday by trouncing Scotland 61-21 at Twickenham and now stand one victory away from a second Grand Slam in succession and surpassing the All Blacks' 18-game tier-one world-record winning run.

England must beat Ireland in Dublin next weekend to achieve those goals and Vunipola, who returned from injury as a replacement against Scotland, is eager for the team to continue improving as they seek to replace the All Blacks at the top of the rankings.

Billy Vunipola poised for England return after successful comeback for Saracens

The 24-year-old British and Irish Lions tour certainty had been out since November with a knee injury, but he showed no ill effects in a 72-minute performance in Saracens'  35-27 win over the Newcastle Falcons on Monday (NZ Time)

Vunipola's display had English media outlets speculating that he could be recalled to Eddie Jones' England squad for next Sunday's Six Nations game against Scotland.

Saracens built up a big lead at Newcastle before the Falcons rallied with two late tries before stalling in their bid to win two bonus points.