England have gained respect in southern hemisphere with series win - Billy Vunipola

England back-row Billy Vunipola believes his team has earned respect in the southern hemisphere after registering their maiden Test series victory against the Wallabies in Australia.

England had a horrendous 2015 World Cup campaign where they became the first host nation, in the history of the tournament, to not make it into the group stages following which, Eddie Jones and Dylan Hartley were made the coach and captain of the team respectively.

Post World Cup, England won the Grand Slam for the first time in 13 years and also recently completed their maiden Test series victory down under, which took them to the second position in the World Rugby Rankings.

Even though satisfied with the series victory, Vunipola urged the team to finish the tour on a high by completing a 3-0 series whitewash.

"I think the respect is there now. There's been a lot of attention when we've been on the beach or just walking through town. Usually no one would care," the Saracens back row said.

"Usually teams beat us and we go back to England. Half of me thinks 'good, at least they know we mean business'.

"But the other half of me thinks 'I don't really care, as long as we are doing the business on the pitch'.

"We said at the start of the tour that we wanted to win 3-0. We can't let up now because we made promises and we can't break them."

The 23-year-old played an influential role in England's Six Nations triumph and Jones has challenged Vunipola to become the best number-eight in the World. However, the Saracens back-row believes he has a fair way to go before accomplishing the challenge.

"There are probably seven guys in front of me. The likes of Kieran Read, Toby Faletau, Jamie Heaslip, David Denton, David Pocock and Duane Vermeulen. I'm just pushing forward," Vunipola said.

"They've been playing four or five years at the top level and I've only just come up.

"Eddie wants me to be this player that I don't even see myself. He wants me to be challenging the best number eights in the world.

"Now that he's told me, I think why not? That's my goal, that's what I'm working towards.

"First I have to get in the team, but then I have to push towards more than just playing for England and playing well."