Tuilagi Fired Up For France
TUILAGI DESCRIBES FRANCE AS AN UNPREDICTABLE SIDE WHO KEEP FIGHTING UNTIL END
London: It’s been 2,175 days since Manu Tuilagi last played against France – nearly six years.
His try in that February 2013 meet helped down Les Bleus at Twickenham, and having now found himself back in a Test environment, the Leicester centre is excited by the possibility of facing them again in the Guinness Six Nations on Sunday.
Twitter Ads info and privacy “For me as a rugby player to come back now and have a second opportunity to have a go at it, it is about staying focused and staying present. Not to look back or forward, just to stay in the moment and enjoy this time,” he said.
“They (France) are tough opponents. They showed last Friday how good they can be; that first half I thought they were back to their normal self, playing with that flair. It was unfortunate that they lost.”
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Last weekend’s win over Ireland represented his first start in an England jersey for five years, but Tuilagi’s long-awaited return to international duty came last November, when he appeared off the bench against Australia to a rapturous home crowd.
“It meant a lot to me; I just wanted to get on as quick as possible,” he said. “I heard a big cheer and it was amazing. When you think back to the bad times it makes it feel even better.”
It’s against France that the 27-year-old has flourished in years gone by, and arguably played some of his best Test rugby. Although his first encounter - at Rugby World Cup 2011 - may have been a loss, it was followed up with two try-scoring performances in 2012 and 2013 respectively.
And he cites the former, in Paris, as a stand-out.
“I didn’t think I would get there at the time,” recalls Tuilagi of the 40-metre arcing run at Stade de France. “I had to jump because Aurélien Rougerie was coming across, but it was definitely one of my favourite tries.”
Tuilagi describes France as an unpredictable side who keep fighting until the end, and insists England must forget about the opening weekend win in Dublin, and instead prepare for anything that may come their way at Twickenham on Sunday.
“It was a massive win but it’s done. It’s not about what we did last week, it’s about what we do this week.”