Jonny shone light on my ‘dark days’
MANU TUILAGI has credited Jonny Wilkinson with helping him believe that he would return to rugby better than ever.
Leicester’s wrecking-ball centre is back where he dreamed of being during those long, lonely periods spent on the sidelines. Back starting – and finishing – matches, back scoring spectacular tries, back in the England squad. “I’ve not seen him with as much energy and acceleration in a long time,” said Eddie Jones, the England coach. “He looks really good.”
At Welford Road tomorrow Tuilagi lines up outside England half-backs Ben Youngs and George Ford. Opponents Worcester will not sleep well. For Tuilagi, who has also become a dad, life has not been this sweet since a damaged chest muscle sparked five years of almost unbroken injury misery. “You always say you will get back, but you have a lot of dark days,” admitted the 27-year old. “My nature is to always think there will be light at the end of the tunnel, but it has been tough.” During those “dark days” he looked around for reasons to believe he had not used up all his good fortune getting capped and playing in a World Cup at the age of 20 before becoming a Test Lion at 22. As his body succumbed to groin, hamstring and repeated knee problems he was drawn to the example of Wilkinson, who overcame a four-year block of injury to reclaim former glories.
“I looked at Jonny and his comebacks and, yeah, it gave me hope,” said Tuilagi, who also had monthly sessions with sports psychologist Matt Thombs. “I just hope it’s going to be like that for me.”
Peace of mind was finally achieved with a visit last year to a witch doctor in Samoa who removed evil spirits from his body.
“It is hard to believe until you see it,” said Tuilagi. “But when she had finished she said, ‘It is done’ – and I believe that it is.”
That gave him confidence, which he has mixed with inspiration taken from watching snooker star Ronnie O’Sullivan during his rehab. “The more pressure, the better Ronnie will play,” said Tuilagi. “That’s what I like. No fear.”
Asked if Manu 2.0 can be better than his old self pre-injuries, he paused for a moment. “I think so,” he said. “Yeah, I definitely think so.”
Owen Farrell has been passed fit to go head-tohead with discarded England rival Danny Cipriani tomorrow.
Farrell has recovered from the injury that sidelined him at Northampton and starts at fly-half against a Gloucester side Saracens thrashed 62-12 in May.
Cipriani has since joined the Cherry and Whites, steered them to an unbeaten start and is the only player in the Premiership to boast a try assist in each of the first three rounds.
The Allianz Park clash is also notable for Sarries’ England scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth breaking the Premiership appearance record in his 266th game.
Billy Vunipola is unavailable after undergoing a ‘pre-arranged medical procedure’ earlier this week.
England props Kyle Sinckler and Joe Marler return to Harlequins’ starting line-up today at Bristol.
❑ FORGOTTEN England back rows Sam Simmonds and Matt Kvesic starred as Exeter continued their winning start to the season with a 24-17 victory at Newcastle last night.
Simmonds scored two tries in the first half at Kingston Park but Zach Kibirige and Johnny Williams crossed for the Falcons to tie the match at 17-17. Kvesic’s 65th-minute score from a five-metre line-out – while Toby Flood was in
the sin-bin – proved decisive.