Mako Vunipola has warned his former England teammates that the announcement of Uini Atonio\u2019s heart attack and immediate forced retirement will take France \u201cto another level\u201d in their Six Nations title defence.<\/p>\n
French rugby has been rocked by the news, which broke on Wednesday, that the much-loved prop is in an intensive care ward in La Rochelle following a \u201ccardiac event\u201d and will not play professionally again.<\/p>\n
Atonio, 35, was part of France\u2019s Grand Slam-winning side in 2022 and started all five games in last year\u2019s championship-winning team. A two-time Champions Cup winner with Stade Rochelais, the 6\u20195 tighthead leaves a huge hole in Fabien Galthie\u2019s plans.<\/p>\n
Loosehead Vunipola often packed down against the 68-cap giant and knows better than most the influence he had at scrum time. Playing in France, he has seen firsthand the impact his loss has had on the French rugby community.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone is stunned to hear about Uini,\u201d says Vunipola<\/a>, in his second year at ProD2 table-topping Vannes. \u201cYou\u2019re just praying and hoping he\u2019s okay.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s been an absolute giant of the game, figuratively and literally. Scrummaging against him was never nice, I can tell you. There\u2019s not many players of his size (123 kilos) that really know how to use it.<\/p>\n \u201cHe could hit, he could carry and, obviously, he could scrummage. It was always a tough day at the office going against him. He is one of the greats, an absolute cornerstone of French rugby.\u201d<\/p>\n Vunipola adds: \u201cYou can see how much he is loved from the many messages that have been posted. We all know rugby is an emotional game, but particularly over here.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen the emotions are right for French teams they can beat anyone. I have no doubt France will be galvanised by this, wanting to win for their mate. I expect them to go up another level.\u201d<\/p>\n France odds-on to retain their crown<\/p>\n Galthie\u2019s side kick off the tournament in Paris on Thursday evening when Ireland<\/a> are the visitors. France are odds-on to retain their crown with Louis Bielle-Biarrey heavy favourite to again be the top try scorer.<\/p>\n England, on an 11-game winning streak and France\u2019s final opponent, will have something to say about that, and Vunipola believes the form of Ellis Genge in his old No.1 jersey gives them a real chance.<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone knows what Gengey can do, and he\u2019s showing it more and more often now,\u201d says Vunipola, who won 79 caps between 2012-23 in addition to playing nine Tests across three British and Irish Lions tours.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can see how much of a talisman he is for Bristol, but also for England. He is getting better and better. When you see him rampaging like that through the middle, it gives your team a lift and enormous confidence.<\/p>\n \u201cI still remember when we played Australia on my last tour in 2022: second Test in Brisbane, England one down in the series. Thirty seconds gone, Gengey gets the ball and runs over [Wallaby captain Michael] Hooper.<\/p>\n \u201cThe lift it gave us as a team was incredible. It set the tone for a real physical performance. We won the game, then a week later in Sydney, closed out the series, beating them again.\u201d<\/p>\n Those England days have gone for Vunipola, whose plan is to finish the season with Vannes, return them to the Top-14, then weigh up his options back home.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s gone well out here,\u201d says a man who last time we spoke, voiced concerns his family might not settle in Brittany. \u201cWe have adapted to the culture and, with a bit more of a grasp of the language, feel a lot more settled.<\/p>\n \u201cFor my family, my young children, it\u2019s been great coming out here and experiencing France. It\u2019s beautiful where we live. But, for me now, it\u2019s probably time to come back and put down roots, ready for life after rugby.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m really enjoying this season, knowing I\u2019m nearing the end of the road in terms of playing. At the same time, I\u2019m trying to figure out what the next year and next step looks like.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d like to explore coaching, I\u2019m doing bits at the club with the younger academy boys around the set-piece. But I have not closed my mind to playing on.<\/p>\n \u201cTo be honest, watching some of the Champions Cup and Prem games, one week I\u2019m like, \u2018Yeah, I\u2019m okay\u2019, another I\u2019m, \u2018Oof. That looks like a big hit\u2019!<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s more a mental thing than it is physical. As long as my head\u2019s in the right place and I still love and enjoy the game, the body will follow.\u201d<\/p>\n Ireland legend: Antoine Dupont is the \u2018greatest rugby player\u2019 who has \u2018ever played the game\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n World Cup a possibility for Vunipola<\/p>\n