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Cape Town - England second-row Courtney Lawes is backing his team to cope without the carrying power of the Vunipola brothers during the Six Nations.
Eddie Jones' men kick-off their campaign at home to France and will be without Mako and Billy due to injury, which is a blow to their side.
But Lawes, who made his 50th appearance for his country against South Africa last year, reckons that England have the quality to step up.
"Mako and Billy are some of the best ball-carriers, probably in the world, so you are always going to miss them," he told England Rugby. "But I think there are players – myself and others – that can step up and fill those boots this Six Nations, if given the opportunity."
On the prospect of facing France, he added: "They (France) didn't have a bad autumn, they could've won a couple of games that they lost.
"I think this is the first time they have had two weeks preparation leading up to a Six Nations. They have some fantastic players and they are going to be a dangerous team."
