Care and Billy Vunipola back in England squad for Australia

LONDON :Coach Eddie Jones has brought Billy Vunipola and Danny Care back from international exile after including them on Monday in a 36-man squad for England's July tour of Australia.

Vunipola, who was excellent for Saracens in Saturday's Premiership final defeat by Leicester, suffered a head injury late in the game but was passed fit to tour having last played in the 2021 Six Nations.

Scrumhalf Care's last cap came against Japan in 2018, though the 35-year-old, who has had a superb season for Harlequins, did come off the bench in England's non-cap 52-21 defeat by the Barbarians on Sunday.

On the recall of Vunipola, Jones told a news conference: "He wasn't at his best the last Six Nations he played with us, he was a bit up and down. I asked him to go away and find his best, I think consistently for Saracens he has been close to that. I thought in the (Premiership) final he was exceptional, he looked like a test Number Eight.

"We were in regular contact, I would go and see him before each selection and have a chat about where he was at. I value him highly as a player but he wasn't at his best, and he has found his best now and deserves to be back in the team."

Care was shown the door after a tactical difference of opinion with Jones in the Japan game four years ago but is another who made an irresistible case for a recall, particularly with regular scrumhalf Ben Youngs rested.

"He's very good at playing on top of teams, it's about the speed of the ball," Jones said, also with an eye on the hard, fast pitches expected in Australia. "We've experimented playing a bit flatter and he is very good at taking the ball to the defence line. When the ball is quick he can engage those ruck defenders which creates space on the outside."

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