Tuesday 3 March 2015 10:45, UK
England No 8 Billy Vunipola insists England can still win the 2015 Six Nations Championship despite losing to Ireland in Dublin.
The 19-9 defeat at the Aviva Stadium will be causing Stuart Lancaster and his Red Rose coaching lieutenants sleepless nights after the progress made during impressive victories over Wales and Italy stalled in alarming fashion.
Ireland are two wins away from a Grand Slam and are now favourites to defend their crown, but an off day from the champions in Wales on March 14 would transform the title race into a three-way shoot-out.
"We can definitely still win the title - you see the confidence Wales had after they lost to us," Vunipola said.
"Right away they put it into their minds that there's always an opportunity if someone slips up and we have to have that mindset.
"We must try to win the games and not just go out to scrape wins. I have never won anything, so to win something, especially the Six Nations, would be an honour.
"We just have to keep that positive mindset and stick with what we are doing.
"We slipped up against Ireland, that's how things go. They were going well last year when we beat them, so anything can happen."
The countdown to the World Cup now numbers five games, but Vunipola refuses to view the Dublin setback in the context of the tournament England are hosting, instead looking only to the next assignment against Scotland on Saturday week, March 14.
"The World Cup is a long way away and anything can happen, but we are a bit frustrated," the Saracens star added.
"We have got to try to attack Scotland now. They will be reeling from their loss to Italy and the same goes for us.
"We have to turn up and try to impose whatever game plan the coaches have for us a bit better than we did against Ireland. The last two games are must win and we will see what happens from there."
