Billy Vunipola explains why he won't take the knee during Six Nations

Saturday, 13 February 2021 at 14:09

bySteven Smith

England powerhouse Billy Vunipola has revealed why he will not take the knee before any of the 2021 Six Nations matches.

Vunipola was among 16 England players who took the knee before the Calcutta Cup loss in recognition of the fight against racism

That players took the knee before the match sparked a row, with fans both praising and blasting the action, which has become associated with the BLM movement and its left-wing leanings.

“A similar situation happened with the Black Lives Matter movement last week when we were asked if we want to take a knee or not,” Vunipola told The Good, The Bad & The Rugby podcast.

“What I saw in terms of that movement was not aligned with what I believe in. They were burning churches and Bibles. I can’t support that.

“Even though I am a person of colour, I’m still more a person of, I guess, Jesus.”

The RFU has backed the players who made the choice not to take the knee.

Woodward picks Sam Simmonds in his England XV

BACK-THREE:

Fullback: Max Malins (Bristol Bears)
Winger: Anthony Watson (Bath)
Winger: Jonny May (Gloucester)

DID YOU KNOW? Anthony Watson started in all three tests for the Lions in 2017 and was one of the stars of the tour.

CENTRES:

Outside-centre: Pier O'Conor (Bristol Bears)
Inside-centre: Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)

Woodward said: "Max Malins and Piers O’Conor have been in excellent form for Bristol and have real gas. There is no substitute for it."

DID YOU KNOW? Slade has Type 1 diabetes, and often injects insulin at half-time in a game

HALFBACKS:

Fly-half: Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
Scrum-half: Harry Randall (Bristol Bears)

Woodward said: "Marcus Smith has the ability to terrify defences and is currently the best goal-kicker in world rugby. Trying to mark him and Bristol scrum-half Harry Randall would be a nightmare."

DID YOU KNOW? Smith was born in the Philippines to a British father and a Filipina mother

FRONT-ROW:

Loosehead-prop: Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers)
Hooker: Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)
Tighthead-prop: Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)

DID YOU KNOW? Kyle Sinckler has previously played for Harlequins, Richmond and Ealing Trailfinders.

SECOND-ROW:

Lock: Maro Itoje (Saracens)
Lock: Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins)

Woodward said: "I want Alex Dombrandt in my team for his ball-carrying, handling and try-scoring nous but I’m greedy, so I also want the sheer gas and dynamism of Sam Simmonds at No 8. So I’m asking Dombrandt to put his scrum cap on and move to lock."

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 2278802.jpg

DID YOU KNOW? So far in his rugby career, he has won four English Premiership titles with Saracens, three European Rugby Champions Cup titles, and three Six Nations Championship titles

BACK-ROW:

Blindside-flanker: Jack Willis (Wasps)
Openside-flanker: Tom Curry (Sale Sharks)
Number 8: Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs)

Woodward said: "In the back row, it’s time for Tom Curry and Jack Willis to boss the breakdown. This England team need lightning-quick ball and will thrive on turnover possession."