Tuilagi needs a lucky break
THE international resurrection of Chris Ashton proves there are no lost causes ahead of next year’s World Cup and Eddie Jones’ fingers are crossed Manu Tuilagi can perform a similar comeback.
Leicester centre Tuilagi has been plagued by injury and has played only 16 minutes for England, off the bench, since Jones took over in December 2015.
He had yet another knee operation recently to add to groin, hamstring and pectoral muscle injuries that have limited him to 26 England caps since 2011.
Tuilagi, 27, was not considered for Jones’ 44-man training squad that gathers today for three days in south-west London.
But Dylan Hartley is back after missing the South African tour with concussion and James Haskell, newly of Northampton after leaving Wasps, is given a chance to push his claims.
Michael Rhodes, the Durban-born Saracens backrow-cum-lock, is included after qualifying through residency last month but Billy Vunipola misses out
We’d love to see him back playing at his best
after breaking his arm again on tour.
Jones has been desperate to get Tuilagi into an England shirt, mindful of the demolition job he performed on the All Blacks in 2012.
Then, Tuilagi ripped the world champions to pieces in eight second-half minutes as England beat New Zealand 38-21 but he cannot catch a break at the moment.
“The kid just needs a bit of luck,” said England coach Jones. “I know he is working hard at his game. But he is that sort of player who puts himself in physical confrontational positions, so we just hope he has a bit of luck.
“We would love to see him back at his best, playing with power and verve, and that aggression that you see from him and the skill. Then if he does that, he will certainly be someone we are going to look at very closely.”
Hartley’s concussion was a serious worry for Jones, who has admitted he feared the Northampton hooker would never play again.
But he is back and on course to lead England in their daunting autumn schedule, which features games against South Africa, New Zealand, Japan and Australia.
Jones said: “Like any of those head injuries, it’s touch and go. You never know when you’re going to recover and how well you’re going to recover, it’s always a flip of the coin.
“It’s good to see him back training and what he loves doing, which is playing rugby. We look forward to having him in the camp. Selection is a balance between current and historical form and you’re looking at each player and how he compares against the competitor he’s against.”
Ashton’s recall was only made possible because of his move to Sale and Jones revealed he had sounded him out before the Barbarians match in May about his intentions.
Ashton scored a hat-trick for the invitational side in their 63-45 win over England and demolished the record of tries scored in the French league last season for Toulon with 24 in 23 appearances.
The 31-year-old has been off the international scene for four years but his move home has endorsed his desire to play in a second World Cup after taking part in England’s disappointing campaign in New Zealand in 2011.
“We had a quick chat and he had a bit of a glint in his eye, which indicated something and that something was that he wanted to come back to England,” said Jones.
“I think he had the idea in his head. He wants to play for England and he sees this as his last opportunity, so we are very pleased that he has made that decision and we are looking forward to what he can bring to the table.” PAUL CLEMENT has warned Frank Lampard taking the plunge into management will be a massive culture shock.
Chelsea legend Lampard leads Derby for the first time against Clement’s Reading tonight as the Championship season starts. The former England midfielder played under Clement when the Reading manager was part of the coaching staff at Stamford Bridge.
Clement said: “I had 16, 17 years working at youth level, did all the licenses, was an assistant at senior level for seven years.
“But nothing quite prepares you for when you’re on the line, you’re responsible for picking the team, doing the changes, it’s what you say and you have to go through that.
“After I had worked with him at Chelsea, Frank embarked on his badges and I know last season he did that quite aggressively and he went into Chelsea to get some practice. You can prepare yourself the best you can. But nothing quite prepares you for it.”
Coincidentally Clement also started his managerial career at Derby and despite his words of caution, he reckons Lampard will last longer than his nine-month stint in charge of the Rams.
Clement said: “I have got no doubt that Frank will be good – not because he played at a high level – but because, if you talk to him about football, and you see