TUILAGI’S SO NAPPY BACK FOR TIGERS
But hat-trick hero Ben suffers an injury shock TODAY’S ABC GUIDE TO FOUR MEETINGS RUGBY UNION
BEN BARBA produced another dazzling display – but then gave table-toppers St Helens a huge injury scare.
MANU TUILAGI caps the best week of his life by returning to Leicester’s starting line-up for tonight’s play-off eliminator with Newcastle.
The England star, injured for the past month, became a first-time dad this week with the arrival of 8lb 4oz daughter Leilani Lea’auta.
Now it is his turn to deliver in what club captain Tom Youngs has billed as a do-or-die clash.
Newcastle, coached by Tigers legend Dean Richards, lie fourth with two games to play – two points ahead of Leicester.
“This is a huge game, our biggest of the season,” said Youngs. “If we lose, we are out, dead and buried. We have worked too hard this season to let it slip. The pressure is on, but that’s what this club is about.”
Tuilagi (above), who described Leilani’s birth as the best day of his life, knows his England tour chances likely rest on the outcome at Welford Road.
Victory would give him up to four games to prove his fitness and show some form to Eddie Jones. Defeat and Tigers’ season has only one more game.
England are to take one of their Rugby World Cup warm-up games up north.
RFU boss Steve Brown says they are “completely committed” to staging a fixture next summer either in the North West or North East, with the Etihad Stadium or St James’ Park the most likely venues.