Six Nations: England's pack ready to bristle once again under new coach Eddie Jones

Jones takes charge of his first match in Saturday’s Six Nations opener against Scotland at Murrayfield and has ordered his forwards to rediscover the belligerence lost under the previous regime.

Vunipola, who will start the Calcutta Cup game at No 8, admits England’s pack have been too passive in recent times and are ready to bristle once again.

“For Eddie, we have been too nice. In the past, we have been a bit lax and now we have to find our motivation and reason to bring the devil,” said Vunipola. “It’s about not taking a backward step if we have lost a scrum or something like that because those little incidents in a game can pass you by.

“If we lose a scrum and the opponents push us back then he wants us to have the attitude that ‘next time you come around, I’m going to smash you’.

“It’s an intensity thing and you need that inside you and have to let it come out.”

England have spent 10 days in camp under Jones and have been spared the 5am starts endured by Japan’s squad, with the wise-cracking former Brave Blossoms coach yet to demonstrate his unforgiving side.

Jones is known as a ferocious taskmaster but so far Vunipola has only seen his ‘good cop’ persona as he enjoys the determination and obedience of players eager to impress their new coach.

“The boys are always on their toes because you never know what is around the corner,” said Vunipola.

“It’s like in football where you get a change of manager. At Chelsea, Jose Mourinho went out and a new guy comes in.

“Anyone could have walked in through those doors and everyone would have changed and been happy.

“It’s a change of regime and you want to impress the boss and be on your best behaviour. That is the place where we are at now.

“Hopefully, we can keep it going for as long as possible because I have heard a few stories about Eddie Jones – the other side of him. We have only seen the good cop so far and I like the good cop a lot. It’s like the teacher at school you have always liked and you don’t want to get them angry.

“That is the same situation and you know you don’t want to get to the point where you are apologising to Eddie Jones. By then it would be too late.”

Vunipola will be picked in a back row also including Chris Robshaw and James Haskell when Jones names his starting XV at lunchtime.

Danny Care will get the nod at scrum-half ahead of Ben Youngs, and Joe Marler is expected to be preferred to Mako Vunipola at loosehead prop.

Cardiff Blues wing Tom James will make his first Wales appearance for more than five years in Sunday’s Six Nations game against Ireland.

Wales head coach Warren Gatland has also handed starts to the likes of Blues full-back Gareth Anscombe, Scarlets prop Rob Evans and Ospreys flanker Justin Tipuric.

Wales captain Sam Warburton moves from openside to blindside flanker in Dublin, with a powerful bench featuring British and Irish Lions trio Alex Cuthbert, Gethin Jenkins and Dan Lydiate.

Centre Jonathan Davies, who missed the World Cup last autumn because of a knee ligament injury, is reunited in midfield with Jamie Roberts.