Billy Vunipola On The Prospect Of Learning From The Likes Of Peter O’Mahony & CJ Stander

Not long to go now.

Land Rover, a Principal Partner of the British & Irish Lions, recently took the opportunity to bring together a host of its brand ambassadors for a day of off road driving and team bonding before the players depart for New Zealand.

For Owen Farrell and Leigh Halfpenny they’ve been here before, but for England back-row Billy Vunipola it’s an entirely new experience. The Saracens forward will be competing for a spot in Warren Gatland’s Test back-row, which will be no easy task.

Speaking at the bonding session, Vunipola says he’s excited about the prospect of training with and learning from the likes of Peter O’Mahony and CJ Stander. The usually bitter international rivals will come together as one on the same team, which is what makes the Lions so special.

“I’m a back row myself, and I want to see how those guys operate and how they prepare. Be it Ross Moriarty, Peter O’Mahony or CJ Stander or any of those boys. I want to learn as much as I can from every one of them.” Vunipola said speaking on behalf of Land Rover, a Principal Partner of the Lions.

Vunipola says the Lions will need to gel quickly and back themselves against the world champions.

“This squad is outrageously good and we will see how we gel as a squad and how special we make this tour; I have every faith that we can. It’s a great coaching set up as well, so I am excited about it. We have to back ourselves and we have to believe in it, if we don’t believe in it, supporters won’t believe in it and we may as well pack up our bags and go home.”

Billy Vunipola is a Land Rover ambassador. Land Rover is a Principal Partner of the British & Irish Lions Tour to New Zealand 2017. Follow @LandRoverRugby #WeDealInReal