Tuilagi emerges fit for purpose to give Jones a real game-changer
Leicester’s centre tells Mick Cleary how a witch doctor helped him get through the dark days
Manu Tuilagi, cleansed of evil spirits by a local witch doctor in Samoa last November, revived and rehabilitated through the supportive company of his Leicester team-mates, feels he is “getting better and better with every game”, as he sets his sights on a sustained period of play for club and country through to the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.
There is little doubt that England’s prospects of doing well in that tournament are closely connected with Tuilagi’s wellbeing. Hence his recall on Thursday to the national team’s training squad. The 27-year-old is the game-changer, the big-blasting centre who single-handedly shredded the All Blacks in 2012.
Tuilagi is back in rude health and fine form, a more rounded figure spiritually following the birth of his first child, daughter Leilani, five months ago, refreshed after lengthy snooker sessions (top break 50) during his lay-offs and more energised, too, with a point to prove after missing entire blocks of seasons, for the past four years.
His last start for England at Twickenham was in 2013, his last starting Test came seven months later in New Zealand. But touch wood all ye England and Tigers’ fans – Tuilagi is back in business.
The man himself refuses to get carried away but in one thrilling, barrelling, spreadeagling run against Newcastle a fortnight ago he gave a snapshot of his old self, the irrepressible force that scatters would-be tacklers and sets teams on to the front foot.
“I have never seen him have as much energy and acceleration,” said England head coach Eddie Jones. “He just seems mentally to be in the game. The way Leicester are playing now affords him more opportunities.”
And the man at the sharp end of that tilt in playing strategy also likes what he sees in Tuilagi and speaks as one who used to track the Tigers centre in the hope of taking advantage of the havoc being wreaked upfield.
“Like all X-factor players, Manu gets better the more he plays,” said the Leicester head coach, Geordan Murphy. “He is getting close to his best now. He says that he feels comfortable in his body and is doing everything he needs to do to stay on the field and get fit. He is a tremendous asset.”
Off the field, lengthy absences have caused Tuilagi certain issues, be it “dark days”, with a longrunning groin problem (2014-15) or the serious late-night spat that saw him plead guilty to assaulting two female police officers and evicted from Stuart Lancaster’s World Cup squad. Those days appear behind him, through maturity, through fatherhood and a cleansing ritual he underwent in Samoa 10 months ago which involved two hours a day of massage by a witch doctor
‘I always think I will get back. Or else there is no point playing. I feel good’
over four days as they sought to rid Tuilagi’s body of three evil spirits.
“We are superstitious people and although it is quite hard for you people to believe it, there was no harm in going to try and fix it,” said Tuilagi. “The witch doctor said it is done [spirits banished].
“Sometimes I wish I had never got injured but you have got to take control of your life. Some say it is bad luck but everything happens for a reason. There were a lot of dark days but I always think that there will be light at the end of the tunnel. I always try and play until it is impossible. I always think I will get back. Otherwise there is no point playing. I’m feeling good now, feeling better and better after every game.”
Tuilagi will probably never be an angel. Jones was quick to slap him down for his curfew-breaking excursion with Denny Solomona at the August camp.
There is something of the naif about him, a boy still at heart but, seemingly, one more aware of his responsibilities.
“Of course my daughter has given me perspective on life, seeing her lying there at 5.30 in the morning,” said Tuilagi. “When you are fit and playing, you take everything for granted and can even go through the motions some days. I would never do that now.” It is extraordinary to discover that Tuilagi has only 26 England caps (plus one for the Lions in 2013), a slender return on such talent.
The same was said about Jonny Wilkinson at one stage in his career albeit the fly-half did have a World Cup medal to his name when repeated injury took such a toll on him.
Then came a move to Toulon and a late-career flourish.
Tuilagi, for now, is rooted in the Leicester community that has served him so well. Wilkinson’s tale of an upturn in fortunes is in his mind, too.
“Loyalty goes both ways and the club have helped me a lot,” said Tuilagi who resisted lucrative offers from elsewhere when signing a three-year extension in 2015. “Quite a few people have mentioned Jonny. I look at his comebacks and it gives me a lot of hope.”
No one could deny Tuilagi that.