Nearly seven years have passed since a Twickenham crowd turned up waiting for the emergence from England’s replacements of a rugby league legend. Some will have done so with a degree of scepticism, which Jason Robinson’s international debut against Italy in 2001 did nothing to allay because the ball seemed to travel everywhere on the field except to his wing.
Robinson had the last laugh. The sprite from Wigan proved himself to be a great player, in either code of rugby, and captained England before retiring, loaded with honours, after last year’s World Cup. Lesley “The Volcano” Vainikolo may not captain England, but there seems a symmetry that, as Robinson’s feats - and feet - are consigned to memory, the former Bradford Bulls player will be sitting on the England bench today, hoping to erupt against Wales.
There are questions to be asked about whether a Tongan who has played league for New Zealand and has been part of English rugby union for no more than this season should be there in the first place, but, importantly, they are not being asked by Vainikolo. There is a sweet simplicity about his response to the doubters. “I’m playing in England, they’re putting food on my table, a roof over my head,” he said. “This is another way of saying ‘thank you’.”
Vainikolo, who qualifies by residence, is no Robinson; there seems twice as much of him, for a start. Where Robinson beat players with such dextrous footwork and far more strength in a small body than seemed possible, Vainikolo, who stands 6ft 2in, brings more than 17st to the party. He also brings the pace that earned him 149 tries in 152 appearances for Bradford and has made an impact during his short Guinness Premiership career with Gloucester.
The player with whom he bears most comparison is not Jonah Lomu, whose name has come up in recent days, but another New Zealand wing who also played rugby league,
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Va’aiga Tuigamala - “Inga the Winger”, who possessed the same squat power, the same light feet and offloading game that England hope Vainikolo will demonstrate.
“I don’t compare myself with anyone,” Vainikolo said. “I’m Lesley, people have to start knowing me. Jonah and Inga, they made their name, now it’s my turn to put my family name up there. Jason is known around the world, he played awesome, and I’m going through what he went through now, but as the first Polynesian to make it over here with England. It feels like I’m at home. I don’t feel strange.”