Young’s full of praise for devastating Manu’s World Cup display
BEN Youngs insists Manu Tuilagi’s rampaging World Cup return is made more meaningful by the protracted battle against injury that almost led to his retirement.
England underwhelmed in dispatching Tonga 35-3 at the Sapporo Dome on Sunday but the display of their AngloSamoan wrecking ball offered a rallying point amid the postmatch wave of dissatisfaction.
Two tries in six minutes from Tuilagi helped propel Eddie Jones’ men out of sight and the 28-year-old’s muscular running tormented his fellow Islanders throughout.
It was his first World Cup appearance since 2011 after a succession of major injuries laid waste to his career and Youngs, his Leicester team-mate, believes he is now restored to world class.
“Manu was devastating. When he’s in that form you just want to give him the ball and let things happen around him,” Youngs said.
“He was exceptional. He’s such a physical player who is hard to stop. He gives us a lot of go-forward.
“It’s crazy that it’s eight years since he played at a World Cup and that’s why I’m so pleased for him. You can see how much he’s enjoying it
“At some stages he potentially thought that was it for him. Now he’s back on the world stage you can see he’s one of the best players in the game.
“People want to watch him and he gets fans on their feet. Four years on he’s showing the world what he’s about.”
England’s hectic start to the World Cup continues against the USA on Thursday, the second match in a four-day turnaround that then leads to a lengthy break in their Pool C hostilities.