Doctors to check on North
MANU TUILAGI has a new role in the England camp besides midfield demolition man – kindergarten carer.
To any of the Ireland side nursing the bruises yesterday from trying to stop the force-of-nature centre, the image of Tuilagi as empathetic mentor to nervous newcomers is a surprising one.
But Tuilagi – father in real life to one-year-old Leilana – is revelling in his behind-the-scenes paternal role with England.
“It’s something I naturally got in to,” said Tuilagi.
“I just try and help the young guys coming into a big environment like England. I was in that position once and sometimes you can get overwhelmed so I’m just there to keep them focused and doing what they are doing.
What they did got them here so I them, ‘Don’t change anything’. “The boys are so young – I feel really old – but they are really good and keen to learn. If I can help them it’s good for the team.”
Tuilagi, who is 28 in May, shepherded Joe Cokanasiga at the World Cup and has been performing a similar job with uncapped Gloucester wing Ollie Thorley during the Six Nations.
“He just does those things off his own back. He’s a very caring guy and tell he adds a lot to the team. In that way he gives us more than just his physical presence,” said coach Eddie Jones.
It is that blockbusting presence that is transformative for England though. Tuilagi’s return from the groin injury that forced him off early against France and sidelined him for Scotland had England playing a different frontfooted game against Ireland.
“He said to me before the game, ‘Give me the ball early and give it to me in a bit of space’. It’s always a good sign when he’s telling you that,” said Tuilagi’s Leicester and England teammate George Ford.
“You saw the effect he can have on us at first phase and that opens up the game for us. It’s great to have him back. Manu’s huge in terms of what he brings and the weapon he is.”
In some respectsTuilagi is a reluctant bowling ball – he broke his nose for the umpteenth time at Twickenham – but, at 6ft 1in and 17st 7lb, he knows the role he was constructed for.
“I don’t know if I enjoy it but it is something you have to do,” he said. “That’s my game and you just try to do your job and trust that the guy next to you will do theirs.”
He will continue to be a critical component for the remainder of the championship with England down on ball carriers.
Billy Vunipola has a broken arm and is definitely ruled out for the rest of the Six Nations, while Mako Vunipola remains in Tonga for family reasons.
Six Nations leaders France leapfrogged Wales to fifth in the updated world rankings yesterday. England remain third.
GEORGE NORTH will be assessed byWales medical staff today after his latest concussion nightmare.
The Wales wing took a heavy blow from the elbow of France wing Gael Fickou after an aerial battle for the ball. He lay motionless on the touchline before team medics rushed to his assistance.
North, 26, who has had a long history of concussions, failed the standard Head Injury Assessment that ruled out a return to the field.Wales coach Wayne Pivac will talk to his medical staff before choosing whether to select North for the England game on March 7. He said: “We’ll use the best people available and they’ll make the decision on that.”