The Six Nations served as something of a redemption project for Billy Vunipola and the England No.8 admits he now has a new lease on rugby ahead of the upcoming World Cup.

An England regular for the majority of the past two seasons, the 22-year-old was surprisingly dropped during November’s autumn internationals as Ben Morgan impressed in his stead.

But when Morgan broke his ankle in January, Vunipola was given another chance and needed no second invitation – scoring two tries in five games and barrelling through opposition defences like a wrecking ball.

One of the knocks on the Saracens back-rower has always been a perceived inability to play a full 80 minutes but he blew that notion out of the water by playing the entirety of all five Six Nations games.

Currently part of head coach Stuart Lancaster’s 50-man training camp, Vunipola looks favourite to start when England begin their World Cup campaign on September 18 but having been burned before, the Australian-born powerhouse is not resting on his laurels.

“I’m just trying to train hard and trying not to listen to comments saying I’m the favourite to start or whatever,” explained Vunipola, who was speaking as part of the England Team at the official launch of the Canterbury England Rugby World Cup kit.

“It’s something I don’t concentrate on anymore and something I don’t read into much – I just try to keep my head down and try to smash through training.

“I’m just happy to hopefully be involved in a World Cup because you’ve got to appreciate where you’re at first.

“The Six Nations gave me quite a lot of confidence – I kind of originally got the platform because I was the only guy they could pick.

“If I failed, they would have picked someone else and that motivated me because I had to show them what I could do.

“The biggest thing I got out of it was that they could see that I can play 80 minutes – that’s something I always wanted them to see from me and I’m glad I did it in the Six Nations.”

Five players are expected to be cut before England head to Denver for altitude training this weekend as part of their preparations although Vunipola’s place on the plane should be assured.

The focus in camp so far has been on mobility with England defence coach Graham Rowntree admitting last week that the Red Rose have ditched the ‘big is beautiful’ philosophy and are seeking increased agility among their forwards.

With Vunipola weighing 126kg, that comment may not initially seem to bode well for him but he remains unconcerned.

“I would probably say that people think it wouldn’t play into my hands because I’m quite big but I think the more mobile I can get, the better,” added Vunipola.

“At the moment it’s all about getting that training behind us and making sure that the game plan we need to employ for a certain game, we can do it.

“You’ve seen that we can do the tight and gritty but it’s whether we can stand up to the southern hemisphere sides who love to run.

“I don’t think it [Rowntree’s comment] was a dig at anyone, especially myself, but it’s about improving as a player and I appreciate that.”

Billy Vunipola was appearing alongside his England team mates at the launch of the innovative England Rugby World Cup shirt #CommittedtoEngland. Visit Canterbury.com