LOSING AT HOME to Wales was a huge blow, but the tremors that follow the 25 – 28 reversal could be even more detrimental to England’s hope of going deep in to the tournament they are hosting.
Saracens’ powerful number eight Billy Vunipola suffered strained knee ligaments at Twickenham and has today been ruled out of the remainder of the Rugby World Cup.
The dynamic back-row will be replaced by a man 15 years his elder, Harlequins’ Nick Easter.
Easter was part of coach Stuart Lancaster’s initial training squad this summer was soon cut from contention with James Haskell and Ben Morgan ultimately preferred to him in the final 31-man squad.
Easter has won 52 caps for England since making his debut in 2007, he started the World Cup final later that year.
