Vainikolo vows to let the tries flow

The former rugby league star has even prepared a special celebration for when he registers his first England try. But it will require the rest of the team to actually give him the ball in an attacking position, which is something they have failed to do against Wales, Italy and France.

Head coach Brian Ashton argues that the Gloucester wing is a "work in progress" in his first season of union butVainikolo said: "They haven't seen what I can do when I get the ball in my hands. I just want to see more of it.

"My try record speaks for itself in rugby league but I don't rely on the past, it's about the present. I'm back to square one in terms of my rugby career, with a new chapter in my life. I'm doing okay and still learning.

"My family back in New Zealand have a laugh with me about when that first try is coming and I tell them they have to be patient. It can take a second or an hour to get a try and I am happy to do the hard yards. Yes, I do have a special celebration ready for that first try but I am not saying anything about it.

"I don't like coming off the pitch with a clean jersey and I want to get it covered in a bit more dirt against Scotland because it will mean I have had more ball."

Vainikolo's move from Bradford Bulls, where he scored 149 tries, was greeted with a mixture of anger and incredulity. Bulls fans did not want to lose their tryscoring machine, while detractors claimed he was only allowed to go because his knees were shot to pieces.

The wing does spend alot of time with ice strapped to his knees, but he claims it is only a precautionary measure.

The 6ft 2in, 17st 5lb bull of a man was timed at 10.6sec for the 100metres in qualifying for the 1998 world junior athletics championships and still holds the school record for that distance at De La Salle College in Auckland at 10.9sec.

Ten years on, although Vainikolo cannot match those times, he has added immense power.

But he admits the search for a first Test try is causing frustration, and said: "I do think about not having scored, and touching the ball down is a bonus. We are training to get fast ball and things are coming together."

Vainikolo's life changed when Mal Meninga, one of the greatest Australian rugby league players of all time, spotted him scoring tries for Tonga during the World Nines tournament in 1996. Meninga signed the youngest of five Vainikolo brothers on a long-term contract and spent the next four years teaching him the league game.

Vainikolo arrived at Bradford in 2002 and enhanced his already big reputation with a phenomenal scoring rate that earned him the nickname Volcano.

It was coined by former Australian league great Peter Sterling, who found pronouncing the player's surname difficult during television commentaries.

He scored five tries on his Gloucester debut against Leeds, but England fans have spent three matches waiting for his first touchdown for them.

However, there were signs of improvement in the win over France in Paris when Vainikolo was used to batter the French into submission.

"I get a really buzz from the big crowds," he said. "I've heard that the Scottish people don't like the English.

"For 80 minutes we will battle it out and then be friends for life. They may have lost all three games but they will be dangerous and have my team-mate Chris Paterson at outside-half. I know how good he is and we cannot afford to give him any penalties."