Mature Manu’s grown up to be the main man
THE first time Manu Tuilagi took on France he jumped off a ferry and landed himself in hot water.
Detained 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 Downing Street photo call in 2013 and was convicted of assaulting two female police officers two years later.
In its place is a more mature Tuilagi who is still the barnstorming presence on the field – as Ireland found to their cost during England’s 32-20 win last weekend.
Ahead of the centre’s reunion with France at Twickenham on Sunday, scrum coach Neal Hatley said: “Manu has been a calming influence on the squad.
“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 listen.” Facing France has always brought something out of Tuilagi.
It was an ill-advised response when they knocked England out of that World Cup eight years ago.
But in their next two meetings he was an irresistible force, plundering tries and powering England to Six Nations victories.
Hatley is convinced fatherhood has had a “really positive effect” on the injury-hit Tuilagi, who has a 10-monthold daughter Leilani.
Tuilagi said: “Auckland feels like a long time ago. 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 27-year-old, who made his first championship start for six years in Dublin, is determined not to be defined by his past.
Years spent trying to mend his broken body left Tuilagi vowing that if he got another chance he would make it count.
He added: “It’s about staying focused in the present. Not to look back or forward. Last week was a massive win but it is done. It’s now about France.”
That spells bad news for a French team still 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 in 2005, admitted he fears the worst on the back of their second-half collapse in Paris.
The former scrum-half said: “We are not confident at all. Our rugby is ill. French rugby is sick.”