England’s Billy Vunipola embraces salad days to give France food for thought

The No8, who once thought that jelly babies were good for you, has lost eight kilos and has never looked fitter on the eve of England’s Rugby World Cup warm-up against France in ParisFrance will recognise the name and the muscular presence but the newly streamlined Billy Vunipola may surprise a few on Saturday evening. Eight kilos lighter and visibly energised by the prospect of the looming World Cup, England’s No8 has never looked fitter. Gone is puffing Billy, replaced by a more focused athlete whose days of junk food excess are finally over. Related: Henry Slade’s emergence challenges Engla…