Mako Vunipola ready for late dash to Six Nations title with England

England prop Mako Vunipola admits he could have a crucial role to play in Saturday’s Six Nations showdown with France at Twickenham.

The title is set to be decided on points difference this weekend with Wales and Ireland also still in the hunt, although their games against Italy and Scotland respectively kick off ahead of England’s match.

Stuart Lancaster’s side appear to be in the driving seat as they currently top the table, but Vunipola, who is set to be among the replacements, is preparing for a frantic finale with the possibility of England needing vital points in the closing stages against France.

"The last 15 minutes against France could be the most crucial spell of our Six Nations so far, so we know we have to come on and make a difference," Vunipola said.

"As a bench we're always trying to have an impact on the game. When you're coming on in the last 10-15 minutes, there can't be any excuses like you're tired.

"Every replacement player gets restless in that second half. We all want to get on as soon as possible and get ourselves into the game.

"Around the 60-minute mark you're on the edge of your seat waiting for the coach to give you the heads-up, but you have to try and stay relaxed and composed until you get the call.

"When you go on, the first thing to do is ensure the set-piece is stable and then try to get involved as much as possible, get your hands on the ball, make tackles, get around the pitch and make an impact.

"The bench has a massive role to play in the game now. It's not just about the XV, it's about the 23-man squad.

"France have world-class players on their bench who come on and make a massive difference for them. We have to make sure we do the same.”

Fighting fire

Vunipola insists England must be ready to fight fire with fire against the giant French pack as they seek to end a sequence of three successive runners-up finishes in the Six Nations.

"We've seen the threat France pose with their pack and they have some big, heavy boys with an all-round game, but their set-piece is their bread and butter.

"As a pack we have to stand up to them first and foremost and then challenge them with our all-court game. I think they're the biggest pack we play against. Uini Atonio is a big boy and you don't want him running at you at full pace.

"But we have some big boys ourselves so we have to stand up to them and match them in terms of physicality. These big forwards nowadays are massive but they can still get around the pitch."

England start as pre-match favourites and are slightly odds-on to win the Championship, but Vunipola insists they must be pitch perfect.

"Winning the Six Nations has been our target and to do it would be massive. We lost to Ireland but now have another chance to do it. We will have to perform at our best to beat France," he said.

"Just to win the Six Nations is special. The added bonus would be that my brother (Billy) will be there. It's added motivation for us to go out there and perform."