Tuilagi offers England rare source of hope with ‘exciting’ revival
Wrecking-ball centre is approaching his best form with Leicester as they prepare to host Wasps
Away from the disaster of England’s NatWest Six Nations campaign, there has been one piece of good news for head coach Eddie Jones recently. Quietly – or as quietly as a 17st wrecking ball can – Manu Tuilagi has been showing signs of rediscovering the form that has long seen him described as the cure for England’s ills.
The centre has scored tries against Saracens and Worcester respectively in his past two matches and, according to Matt Toomua, who will play alongside Tuilagi in the centres against Wasps today, he is only just getting started.
“If he stays fit he will be the centre at the World Cup, no doubt, and he will have a huge role in it, too,” says the Australia international. “He has a unique skillset and I don’t think I’ve played with a guy like him. To be honest, the best is yet to come.
“He has played well, but I know he is going to be playing better in the next few weeks. That is pretty exciting. He is a special player and that is why we are constantly fielding questions about him – everyone is a little excited to see him kick on again. It is just about staying fit.”
As ever, the caveat is not about Tuilagi’s talent, but rather his body. Since September 2013 he has suffered six injuries that have kept him out for a minimum of three months each, the worst of which – a groin problem – took 15 months to heal.
The problems seemed so bad that at the end of last year Tuilagi even visited a witch doctor in his native Samoa to get to the root of his issues. In his words, “She found out there were three lady spirits who had married themselves on to me ... that was why I had been injured.” They were duly exorcised and Tuilagi is, at last, fit and firing again.
Leicester Tigers’ game against Wasps at a sold-out Welford Road is another chance to show quite how far he has come, but Toomua does sound one note of caution.
“Manu has been a victim of his own success in a way,” he says. “Day one, when he is back, everyone is waiting for him to be back to his prime. I have been through plenty of injuries and, unfortunately, that’s just not the case. A few mental scars are there from the amount of injuries he has had and that is understandable. I get that as I’ve had my fair share of major injuries as well.
“He has the ability, we all know that, so it is about sticking with it, which we have done quite well. He is benefiting from time in the saddle and you have seen that recently. He is starting to get those noticeable things – making breaks and scoring tries – but it really started from small areas, the fitness and that is starting to come back. That is really exciting for us as he is well and truly a game-breaker at this level, and at international level as well.”
While Leicester have been building up one England international, they will also have to piece together another. George Ford starts at fly-half this weekend, having been dropped by England, and Toomua admits the club will have to work hard to build his confidence again.
“We have welcomed him back with open arms, that’s for sure,” says Toomua. “A guy with his quality, we understand what he can do.
“I think George was the victim of a few injuries in the England squad, particularly a few of their ball-runners, and that meant they needed a bit more punch in midfield. I don’t personally think it was a form issue from him. We well and truly back him and he will be our No10 – as he should be. It is just the emotional rollercoaster that is international rugby.”
That rollercoaster is something both Tuilagi and Ford know all too well. Leicester and England will hope the only way is up from here.
‘If he stays fit, he will be the centre at the World Cup and he will have a huge role in it, too’