Rugby World Cup: Mako Vunipola reveals Eddie Jones masterminded plan to stand up to All Blacks’ Haka

MAKO VUNIPOLA has revealed Eddie Jones’ masterplan to face down the Haka and unnerve the All Blacks.

England stood in a defiant V formation as New Zealand performed their traditional pre-match Maori routine.

And they then scored a try after just 96 seconds on their way to a glorious 19-7 semi-final victory.

Joe Marler, the replacement prop, could be in hot water for encroaching on All Black territory and was warned by referee Nigel Owens to step back.

But the ploy worked as England, who had been talking up their chances all week, took an early lead through Manu Tuilagi and booked their place in next Saturday’s World Cup final.

Front-row forward Mako admitted it was head coach Jones who suggested the ruse.

He said: “We talked about it as a team but obviously everything has to get past the boss. He gave us the idea.

“We wanted to be respectful but we wanted to also make sure they understood we would be ready for the fight.

“We just knew we had to back it up. There have been a few times in the past when the All Blacks have had that done to them and blown the opposition away.

“We put accountability on ourselves to back it up and I thought we did. We knew it would rile them up, it probably felt like we had disrespected them.

“We meant no offence, we just wanted to let them know we were ready for the challenge ahead. It was a ferocious contest, which is what you expect.

“Marler said he got confused. He thought he was supposed to go all the way around the Haka.

“But because of that, he’s the one who has to pay the fine. He dishes it out a lot so the boys would be more than happy if he has to pay!

“We knew the All Blacks, when they play a big Test, always start well. We knew they were going to come at us and we had to respond.

“Luckily we have some athletes like Manu who can just dive over like that and make it easy.

“It was only the start but we mentioned we had to stay alive for the whole game.

“They are the best team in the world for a reason and can score from anywhere. It helped we had a good start.”

England skipper Owen Farrell was seen on the big screen smirking during the Haka. And Farrell said: “We wanted to not just stand there and let them come at us.

“We wanted to keep a respectful distance but we didn’t want to just stand in a flat line and let them come at us.”

England’s man of the match Maro Itoje, who played a major role in negating New Zealand’s efforts to dominate the line-out, said his team will dig deep into their energy reserves for the final against South Africa or Wales on Saturday.

The Saracens lock said: “If you are in a World Cup final you will find something, even if you have nothing left.

“These are the moments you dream of. The 2007 World Cup was the first World Cup when I was captivated by the tournament.

“I started playing rugby in 2006 and so 2007 was my first proper World Cup. You dream of being involved in weeks like this.

“I remember how excited it made me. We will be super prepared.

“We will make sure our training is good and make sure the guys have the right attitude. We will build and build towards the final.”

Itoje praised assistant coach Steve Borthwick for helping England edge the line-out battle.

It proved decisive when the All Blacks won by a single point at Twickenham on the teams’ previous meeting last November.

And Itoje said: “Steve Borthwick has made a career of lineouts. He is the professor. If there was a PHD in lineouts he would be a double PHD.”

Sam Underhill, who was outstanding again with several big hits on the Kiwis, praised boss Jones for his calmness.

Underhill said: “It is not about getting too revved up with emotion, it is about staying in control.

“Eddie has been awesome. It is clear to the group how much he cares about the players. He is a very good coach and he makes life simple, which is what you want.

“You don’t want to be overloaded with messages, you want a clear idea of what you’re doing.

“He has been relaxed. You give off energy to each other and as a group we have given off that we are confident and we want to be in control. We are in as good a place mentally as we can be.”

England’s 2003 World Cup hero Jonny Wilkinson said: “That was an immense performance.

“England’s players are on a par with New Zealand’s super heroes who have been dominating the game for years.”

And his old boss Sir Clive Woodward added: “Farrell and Itoje were immense, fantastic. It was a huge, huge win for England but totally deserved.

“I coached an incredible England team but Eddie’s men put a huge physical stranglehold on New Zealand.”