Six Nations 2018: Out-of-form Mako Vunipola goes back to the drawing board after accepting recent criticism

Saracens forward is the only fit loosehead prop with Test experience and looks certain to start against Italy next weekend despite his poor scrummaging of late

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Mako Vunipola admits he has not been at his best in recent weeks after being criticised for his scrummaging, but has vowed to work with his coaches to improve and try to give England the strong base that they will need if they are to win the Six Nations for the third consecutive time.

The Saracens prop has been singled out for underperforming for his club over the last two months, during which Saracens have been penalised repeatedly in the scrum in what has normally been an area of strength.

With Vunipola almost certain to start the Six Nations encounter with Italy next Sunday as long as he remains fit – given that Joe Marler is suspended and both Ellis Genge and Matt Mullan are injured – the 27-year-old knows he needs to up his game on the international stage.

“I don’t think the criticism has been unfair,” Vunipola told the BBC. “I’ve had to take a look at myself in the last couple of weeks and go back to the drawing board.

“A few games have gone away a bit from what we were trying to work on as a team, and scrums are becoming an even tougher battle now.”

Vunipola will likely prove one of the most important players in Eddie Jones’ squad between now and the end of the Six Nations in mid-March, and not just because he is the only loosehead prop available with any previous Test experience.

With his brother, Billy Vunipola, ruled out of the entire championship with a fractured arm and Wasps’ Nathan Hughes also absent, Vunipola will be expected to take on the bulk of England’s ball carrying, but he stressed that both his coaches at Saracens and within the England set up are helping him to rediscover the form that saw him start all three British and Irish Lions Tests against New Zealand last summer.

England scrum coach Neal Hatley has been keeping tabs on Vunipola while he’s been back with his club, while Ian Peel has been working with him at Saracens to prepare him for the eight weeks away with the national team.

“Neal is constantly messaging me, coming down to the club,” Vunipola said. “Little things, where you feel you’re doing one thing right, but there are other small things you could be doing better.”