England prop Mako Vunipola is
yearning to make his long-awaited comeback in Saturday’s World Cup warm-up match against Ireland after recovering form a hamstring injury that had sidelined him for three months.
Vunipola was injured in Saracens’ Champions Cup final win over Leinster in May and the forward needed surgery.
The 28-year-old says: “I have been very excited the last two weeks watching the boys play and now I just want to get out there and help them play rugby.
"You take things for granted when you are a bit younger.
“I remember before the last Rugby World Cup thinking I would have loads more of these. This [injury] has changed my mindset, realising it could all be taken away.”
A win for Ireland on Saturday will see them overtake Wales in first place on the World Rugby rankings.