Monday 6 March 2017 19:32, UK
Will Greenwood predicts Billy Vunipola will be back in England's No 8 shirt before the Six Nations comes to an end.
Vunipola is back in England's squad for the Calcutta Cup clash with Scotland on Saturday, after making his return to the Saracens side in their Aviva Premiership clash with Newcastle last Sunday.
The No 8 was playing for the first time since being carried off on a stretcher with a knee injury during England's clash with Argentina last November, an injury that had been expected to keep him out for the entire tournament.
Wasps back-rower Nathan Hughes has started in his absence and Vunipola said, before being confirmed in Eddie Jones' squad on Sunday, that he would not be disrespectful in expecting to get his starting place back straight away.
And Greenwood would not be surprised to see Hughes start against the Scots, even if that does eventually prove to be his last for now.
Greenwood told Sky Sports News HQ: "Others can be disrespectful for Billy. He's a magnificent player. He was short-listed for World Player of the Year last year, and rightly so.
"There was an argument up and down the lands as to who was the best No 8 on the planet last year - Kieran Read may have shaded it, the All Black, but it's tough to say Billy wasn't right in the frame.
"He's a wonderful player and has developed hugely under Eddie Jones. He was always a talent under Stuart Lancaster but has been given some authority - the vice captaincy role at times - and leadership.
"He looks fit and strong, his error count is down and he has ability to make the big plays and the big carries in the big games.
"He's a fascinating character when you look at him in terms of his size. You just think he is going to stick it under one arm and bulldoze you, he's just a tank of a player.
"But whatever he did in the garden with his brother Mako when they were growing up, they must have had a little squash ball or golf ball just throwing it about, doing the Sherylle Calder eye training before that came in.
"When the Vunipola boys are in tandem England tend to play pretty well.
"Mako will have to get in ahead of Joe Marler and Billy will have to get in ahead of Nathan Hughes but there is absolutely no doubt that both will be in the 23. I'd be very surprised if, come the Ireland game, Bill wasn't in the starting No 8 jersey. He may have to bench it in week one behind Nathan."
