Jason Taumalolo runs the football into the teeth of the Kangaroos' defence at Mount Smart Stadium last October.

If England win the Rugby World Cup this year blame Tongan league hero Jason Taumalolo.

England prop Mako Vunipola has revealed that Taumalolo is one of his inspirations outside rugby and he tries to incorporate some of the NRL star's play into his own game.

Vunipola is set to face Ireland in Dublin on Sunday (NZ Time), where his scrummaging will be put to the test, but it's Taumalolo's prowess with ball in hand that Vunipola enjoys.

"He can run over you but he can also do other things," Vunipola told The Times.

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"I try to see how he develops his running game, first-phase moves.

"I try and copy it to see if I can do the same."

Vunipola played in all three tests for the British and Irish Lions on their 2017 tour of New Zealand, where he proved his set-piece work had improved considerably since the 2013 tour of Australia.

DAVID ROGERS/GETTY IMAGES Mako Vunipola takes on the All Blacks during the 2017 Lions tour.

But he has always been known better for his ball carrying and offloading ability, and it seems that Taumalolo's ability to find gaps on the edge as well as smash the ball up the middle hasn't gone unnoticed..

Vunipola also named Melbourne Storm and Maroons legend Cameron Smith as a player he admired - "So cool and calm under pressure. Always does it when the pressure is on him." - and praised NFL champion Tom Brady's quest for self improvement.

"It's his mindset," Vunipola told The Times.

STUFF Super Rugby and European stars, as well as All Blacks, could have played for Tonga in a different world.

"He's been the best for how many years? And he still wants to learn. I am not saying I am trying to be Tom Brady, but it's his desire to be better."

Vunipola will face Irish tight-head Tadhg Furlong this weekend and says the Leinster prop is out on his own as "the best tight-head in the world".

Away from the set-piece, England will also be hoping that Mako's younger brother, Billy, can have an influence on the game with his explosive ball carrying.

DAVID ROGERS/GETTY IMAGES Mako Vunipola charges into the Springboks defence in Bloemfontein last year.

"Billy was always the one with more natural talent," Vunipola said."He's a way better player than me.

"He is quicker than me, he is fitter than me and skill-wise he has always had better handling skills.

"When we were younger, we used to [goal]kick a lot. More times than I'd like, he'd beat me."

GETTY IMAGES Billy Vunipola takes on Duane Vermeulen during the first test match between South Africa and England at Elllis Park last year.

​Vunipola was born in Wellington but spent much of his childhood in Wales before representing England at age-grade level.

He credited his rise to his willingness to listen and learn - even picking up tips from England No 10 Owen Farrell.

"Faz [Farrell] is one of the best No 10s in the world," he said.

"We've played together for nearly 10 years now. I take an interest in what he sees. Maybe that rubs off."