Friday 14 November 2014 22:01, UK
England No 8 Billy Vunipola says he must impose himself on South Africa on Saturday after admitting to "tip-toeing round everyone" in last week's defeat by New Zealand.
Vunipola retained his place to face the Springboks on Saturday but conceded he was far from his marauding best in the 24-21 defeat by the All Blacks last week.
"I didn't enforce my normal game and felt I was quiet. It's tough because it's not in our culture to say 'look mum, I'm doing this'. As a kid you wait until you are spoken to," said the 22-year-old.
"Sometimes I have got too much respect for the older guys in the team, but I have to say 'give me the ball, I'll do my best with it'.
"I need to impose myself with England like I do at Saracens and be who I am rather than tip-toeing round everyone.
"I have played the New Zealand game over two or three times in my head and there are times when I should have said to team-mates 'get out of the way, let me have a go'."
Vunipola has established himself as first choice number eight under head coach Stuart Lancaster, but still has just 11 caps to his name.
"I'm not still a kid even though people view me as a kid. People should forget I'm only 22," he said.
"It's fair enough that people are telling me I should be better because this is international rugby. I know I've got to be better. I know I could have been better against New Zealand.
"I'm more responsive to an arm around the shoulder than a kick up the backside. At Saracens I can sense they trust me.
"What made me feel instantly important at Saracens was before my first pre-season game they told me there was no pressure on me.
"They said they'd signed me because I'm an unbelievable player and because they trusted me.
"After that I didn't need them to tell me anything. I could sense by the way they are interacting that they fully trust me, although I'm not saying it's different with England."
Vunipola, who is 6ft 2in and nearly 20 stone, has been criticised for a perceived inability to last 80 minutes at international level with Gloucester's Ben Morgan usually coming off the bench for the final quarter.
"I want to prove myself," said Vunipola. "I told Stuart I want to be the Lawrence Dallaglio of the team, the guy who never comes off, the guy who plays 80 minutes and is the go-to guy."
