Billy Vunipola’s passion for the Lions could mean bad news for Jamie Heaslip

His fitness and form will be vital to the Lions chances in New Zealand.

When speculating on the Test XV that will line out against the All Blacks in Eden Park on June 24, the back-row positions are incredibly difficult to predict. There are so many good players to choose from - CJ Stander, Peter O'Mahony, Sean O'Brien, Jamie Heaslip, Sam Warburton, Justin Tipuric, Ross Moriarty, Toby Faletau, James Haskell, Billy Vunipola, Chris Robshaw..... You get the picture. One man though, who you could probably say is close to being a guaranteed starter is Vunipola. He brings so much to the No. 8 role that it is difficult to looks past him. We all know about his incredible ball carrying ability which allows his teams to gain precious metres but there is so much more to his game. He has very quick feet which he utilises to gain even further advantage when he takes the ball into contact. He's incredibly quick, can offload and has an excellent pass. He tackles like a machine too and he isn't unfamiliar when it comes to jackling over the ball to win his side a precious turnover. Vunipola missed out on the last Lions Tour as he watched his brother, Mako, create history in Australia. Vunipola was interviewed by The Mirror recently and his words just reinforce how much being picked means to him - a refreshing outlook from the usual "I'm only concentrating on the next game" mantra.

“Everyone says ‘I’m not thinking about the Lions’ - they are all lying,” Vunipola told The Mirror. “I think about it all the time. It’s a dream I’ve been chasing ever since my England debut. “I dream of what would it be like not to be picked, or to be picked, and it’s scary. It helps motivate me.”

It's his dream and the 24-year-old admits that he had to take a long hard look at himself in order to become the player that he is today.

“I always wanted the big moments, but didn’t want to put in the little ones. I had too much fun, didn’t work hard enough. “When it all came crashing down I wondered why. That is the reason. It’s about becoming a better rugby player rather than just a rugby player who has a good life.”

These words from Vunipola just display the sheer level of determination which is coursing through his body right now. Of course, these words don't mean he wants it more than say someone like Jamie Heaslip. But what it does say, is that this man is on a path to wearing the No.8 jersey in New Zealand and it seems that very little is going to stop him achieving this.