England No 8 says memories of 2015 are vivid, but Eddie Jones has helped heal the team’s wounds by bringing in psychologists to help them open upNo team at this
World Cup lacks for motivation but, amid the skyscrapers of Japan’s sprawling capital city, England’s desire for redemption is more intense than most. Four years ago they were ejected from their own tournament in the pool stages and a fierce collective determination to put the record straight is increasingly apparent.
Then, as now, England’s campaign hinged on two tough pool games scheduled on consecutive weekends. The memory of those twin 2015 Twickenham defeats against Wales and Australia still grates with all involved and, in the lead‑up to his side’s concluding pool fixtures against
Argentina and
France, the No 8 Billy Vunipola is eager to exorcise a few ghosts.