Walkout Allen’s rap
TUILAGI HAS GONE FROM HARBOUR-DIVE SHAME TO EDDIE’S LEADER
MARK ALLEN faces disciplinary action after walking out of a match against Ali Carter.
And the former Masters champion risked further punishment by blasting the table conditions at the World Grand Prix.
Allen, 32, was trailing 3-1 and by 20 points to two in frame five when he missed an easy yellow off the spot in Cheltenham.
The white went in off for a foul and, in disgust, the Northern Irishman hit the yellow with his hand and then conceded the match by shaking Carter’s hand.
In a contest shown live on ITV4, referee Ben Williams pointed out to Allen, as he left the arena, there were plenty of points left to win the frame.
Allen said: “I was just extremely frustrated with a lot of things out there today, what is the point of letting the audience watch me miss more and more?
“I thought, ‘Just get out and get ready for the next one’. I don’t regret it at all.”
BETFRED SUPER LEAGUE HULL (12) 18 CASTLEFORD (14) 26 T: Westerman T: Shenton 2 Connor, Lane Sene-Lefao G: Sneyd 3 Clare, Moors
G: McShane 2, Rankin ATP SOFIA OPEN, 2nd Round M Klizan (Svk) bt D Brands (Ger) 7-6 (7-5) 6-4, M Fucsovics (Hun) bt Y Maden (Ger) 7-6 (7-3) 3-6 6-4, (6) F Verdasco (Spa) bt M Copil (Rom) 6-2 4-6 6-1, (3) A Medvedev (Ukr) bt R Haase (Hol) 5-7 6-2 6-2, (7) G Monfils (Fra) bt M Kukushkin (Kaz) 7-5 6-3, (2) S Tsitsipas (Gre) bt J-L Struff (Ger) 7-6 (7-5) 6-4
WORLD GRAND PRIX, Cheltenham, 2nd Round
D Gilbert (Eng) bt D Junhui (Chn) 4-0, A Carter (Eng) bt M Allen (NIrl) 4-1, K Wilson (Eng) bt S Bingham (Eng) 4-0, M Selby (Eng) bt N Saengkham (Tha) 4-2 Quarter-finals
A Carter (Eng) bt D Gilbert (Eng) 5-1
PREMIER LEAGUE, Newcastle J Wade (Eng) bt R van Barneveld (Ned) 7-4, G Price (Wal) bt D Gurney (NIrl) 7-4, C Dobey (Eng) and M Suljovic (Aut) drew 6-6, M van Gerwen (Hol) bt M Smith (Eng) 7-5 THE first time Manu Tuilagi took on France he jumped off a ferry and landed himself in hot water.
Arrested and cautioned by New Zealand police, England branded him ‘irresponsible’, imposed a fine and warned him about his future conduct.
Much water has flowed under Auckland harbour bridge since Tuilagi provided the only Red Rose splash in that 2011 World Cup.
Gone is the young bull who gave David Cameron ‘bunny ears’ during a No.10 photo call in 2013 and was convicted of assaulting two female police officers two years later.
In its place is Tuilagi 2.0, every bit still the barnstorming presence on the field, as Ireland found to their cost against Eddie Jones’ men on Saturday.
But now a father to Leilani, a daughter of 10 months, and reinvented as a leader of men inside the court of King Eddie.
“Manu has been a calming influence on the squad,” revealed scrum coach Neal Hatley ahead of the centre’s reunion with France at Twickenham on Sunday.
“He’s been brilliant. He delivers with actions, you saw in Dublin the impression he leaves.
“And while he doesn’t say a lot, when he does, people WARREN GATLAND slammed the critics and told his Wales players to prove him right in Rome.
He made 10 changes for the Six Nations clash with Italy as the Dragons bid for an 11th win in a row tomorrow, which would equal a record from 1910. Gatland (right) listen.” The French have always brought something out of Tuilagi. It was an ill-advised response when they knocked England out of that World Cup.
But in their next two meetings he was an irresistible force, plundering tries and powering England to Six Nations wins.
Hatley is convinced fatherhood has had a “really positive effect” on the 27-yearold, who made his first championship start for six years last weekend. “Auckland feels like a long time ago,” Tuilagi said with a sheepish grin, as England trained against Pat Lam’s Bristol yesterday.
“As you grow up you live and you learn. All the things that have happened… you make your bed and you’ve got to lie in it. That’s life. You learn and try to be better as a person.”
The midfielder is determined not to be defined by his past. Years spent trying to mend his broken body left him vowing influences. People can say, write, or imply whatever they like,” he said. “I thought we answered any criticism emphatically last year with the performance. The guys have to prove themselves because we’ve left out some real quality players.” that if he got another chance he would make it count.
“It’s about staying focused in the present,” Tuilagi said. “Not to look back or forward. Last week was a massive win but it is done. It’s now about France.”
Which is bad news for a French team reeling after blowing a 16-0 lead at home to Wales.
Dimitri Yachvili, match winner when France last won a Six Nations match at Twickenham back in 2005, admitted: “We are not confident at all. Our rugby is ill. French rugby is sick.”
Speaking on this week’s Mirror Maul podcast, Yachvili conceded that England play at a “different level – faster and more powerful”.
The new episode of the Mirror Maul Six Nations podcast, also featuring Paul Grayson and Serge Betsen, is now available at bit. ly/2UKHfkT