Monday 29 February 2016 10:07, UK
In-form England number eight Billy Vunipola says new head coach Eddie Jones deserves plenty of credit for his excellent Six Nations displays.
England remain on course for a Grand Slam after beating Ireland 21-10 on Saturday in a hard-fought Twickenham encounter, to make it three wins out of three.
And the 23-year-old Vunipola was named man of the match for the second time in three Six Nations matches, having once again gained plenty of territory for England with his powerful ball-carrying.
The Saracens man has been named one of the squad's three vice-captains and says the backing he has received from Jones has filled him with confidence.
"I don't think you'd find anyone in the workplace who, when their boss tells them they've done a good job, would be head down, walking through corridors and not really wanting to talk," said Vunipola.
"He's given me the freedom to go out there and play my game, get the ball in my hands early and try to make things happen.
"Also, in defence, he wants me to try to smash people. He's encouraging me to do everything. I'm doing OK, so hopefully I'll keep that up and not disappoint him."
England have bounced back well after the huge disappointment of being knocked out of the World Cup at the group stage last autumn and Vunipola implied that the new coaching set-up is partly responsible for the improvement.
"We're not being told to act in a certain way," he said. "I'm not having a dig at anyone here, but I can go out there and try to play my game, imposing myself in any way I can.
"He's given me that freedom and that's something I've thrived on so far and hopefully I can carry that on.
"This is probably the best three games I've put together for England. That was the biggest thing for me, that consistency.
"I think I played OK last Six Nations but I wasn't at the level everyone else was at.
"Now I think I'm a bit fitter than I was this time last year and I'm able to do what I said I always wanted to do at international level, and I'm happy with that."
