Tuilagi destructive on the field, colourful off it
There are multiple options available to anyone who is asked to recount a tale about Manu Tuilagi.
New Zealanders will recall the time Tuilagi capped off England’s dreadful 2011 World Cup tournament by leaping from a ferry about to berth at the Auckland Ferry Terminal, creating even more angst for outgoing coach Martin Johnson and his management.
In his first appearance of that event, against Argentina, he was also fined around $10,000 for wearing an illegal mouth guard.
Then there’s that infamous photo of Tuilagi giving former Britain Prime Minister David Cameron the ‘‘bunny ears’’ when the British and Irish Lions visited No 10 Downing Street in the wake of their 2-1 series win over Australia in 2013.
After the harbour swim and the attempted Cameron joke, midfielder Tuilagi got a grilling.
Following his impromptu dip in Auckland harbour he was interviewed by Auckland police for an hour and smacked in the pocket to the tune of about $6000 by the Rugby Football Union.
After the ‘‘bunny ears’’ incident he was ridiculed by several former England players, who noted the lame gag indicated Tuilagi lacked maturity.
Just don’t make the error of allowing
Manu Tuilagi
Although cagey on his exact weight, he has been listed at being around 113kg, Tuilagi isn’t reticent about using his impressive physique to make opposition players curse him as they lie on the physio’s table.
After leaving his homeland of Samoa for Britain as a 13-year-old, and later convincing the Home Office not to deport him for being an illegal immigrant, Tuilagi carved out a successful career as a professional player for the Leicester Tigers club and, when required, for England and the Lions.
Growing up in Samoa he, like his friends, closely monitored the teams from New Zealand.
‘‘You always watch the All Blacks back in Samoa,’’ Tuilagi said from England’s hotel near the Disneyland complex in Tokyo.
‘‘It was Super 12 back in the day, you watched all the All Blacks players playing in that tournament.
‘‘It’s exciting for me to one day to play against the All Blacks.’’
His recollections of being a footy fan in the South Pacific echo those of many other kids who grew up during that era, with the deeds of the late Jonah Lomu dominating conversations and thoughts.
‘‘A massive fan,’’ Tuilagi confirmed. ‘‘Just the way we he played, no-one plays like him. He was a big legend of the game.’’
Tuilagi’s first game against the All Blacks in 2012 was memorable.
He played in the midfield and scored a try when he intercepted a pass by Kieran Read as England stunned the All Blacks 38-21 in London, the team’s most recent win against the back-to-back world champions.
Asked if that result has any relevance ahead of the semifinal, he replied in the negative: ‘‘No, not really. It was a good day, a good win. But it is not about that day now, it is about Saturday.’’
It’s been a bumpy ride for Tuilagi. Injuries, discipline issues and the whims of the selectors have restricted him to 35 appearances for England and one for the Lions.
When the stars align, though, watch out. He can be extremely potent with our without the ball, something the All Blacks midfield of Anton Lienert-Brown and Jack Goodhue will be acutely aware of.
Tuilagi says he didn’t think he would get the opportunity to participate in this tournament in Japan. Coach Eddie Jones wanted an enforcer, however.
‘‘That’s why, for me, I have got to enjoy every moment. And you know this is the big moment. Sometimes you forget with everything going on, when you really think about it, this is a dream.
‘‘This is a dream come true.’’ Tuilagi has previously hinted this will be his final global tournament, that his body has copped a hammering over the years.
He’s almost evangelical as he explains how Jones and his management team have managed to make the squad gel and be contenders to lift the Webb Ellis Cup for a second time.
‘‘You know with this group of players, I would say it’s probably the tightest that this squad has ever been.
‘‘All rooting for each other, and everyone is pulling in the same direction. We know how important the game is, but we obviously don’t want that to overwhelm us and affect us.’’
Finally, the haka question is raised. He seems to revel in watching it be performed, greeting it with a smile and reflects on his former life in Samoa when explaining his actions.
‘‘It was an honour and to stand there in front of the haka and accept the challenge. For me . . . growing up, watching it on TV.
‘‘To finally stand in front of it, it was amazing.’’
‘‘It was an honour and stand there in front of the haka and accept the challenge.’’