England’s Elvis back in building
THERE is a definite whiff of excitement in the Algarve air as the clock ticks down to England’s appointment with South Africa on Saturday. If he can only stay out of harm’s way for another four days, Manu Tuilagi will finally once again pull on an England shirt.
Tuilagi’s injury curse was so pervasive he even consulted a witch doctor in his native Samoa, but a year on the Leicester centre is poised to play his first Test in more than two years at Twickenham.
If it is difficult to gauge the thrill level in the laid-back Tuilagi, the animated response yesterday of his team-mates to the prospect revealed everything about his importance.
English rugby’s Elvis – rehabilitated, restored and rebooted – is back in the building.
“People are getting excited about Manu being back in the squad and people are right to be excited,” said Leicester club-mate Ben Youngs. “We saw the other week against the Scarlets the damage that he created.
“It was the most dominant display we’ve seen from him. He just grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and I was so pleased for him. Everyone just watched him that night and thought, ‘He’s back’.
“Before he had such a terrible run of injuries, if you look back to 2013, he was tearing down trees. We haven’t seen enough of him since then.
“I’ve seen him when he’s gone through his dark periods and I’ve seen him in those periods when he’s come through the other side and you think, ‘Here we go’, then, boom, something happens again. I want the best for England and the best for my mate and I’m just so glad he’s back here again. He’s a game-changer.
“Australia have got Israel Folau, a game-changer who can make something out of nothing and win you a game with the last play. Manu is that person for England.”
It now almost feels like it was filmed in black and white, but spool back to the destruction Tuilagi unleashed in a record win over the All Blacks in 2012 and you have one of the startling individual performances for England in living memory.
“To beat the All Blacks and to beat them the way that we did was very pleasing,” said Tuilagi. “I remember everyone wrote us off because we’d already lost against South Africa and Australia. That’s going to be with me for the rest of my life.”
His performance that day offers a tantalising glimpse of what his colleagues hope can be seen again.
“I’ve got fond memories of playing with him,” said Ben Morgan. “He is a wrecking ball when he gets going like that. He is so explosive.” Mike Brown SEPTEMBER 2013:
Out for six months after tearing a pectoral muscle in a Premiership match against Newcastle.
OCTOBER 2014:
Out for 15 months after a recurrence of a groin injury in a Champions Cup match against Ulster.
MAY 2016:
Injures groin in the Premiership semifinal against Saracens. Misses England’s tour of Australia.
SEPTEMBER 2016:
Damages groin in Leicester’s opening game of the season. Out for two months.
JANUARY 2017:
Injures knee ligaments against Saracens. Out for the season.
SEPTEMBER 2017:
Injures knee ligaments in the Premiership opener against Bath. Out until December.
JUNE 2018:
Misses England’s tour to South Africa to undergo knee surgery.
SEPTEMBER 2018:
Misses England’s training camp in Bristol with a hamstring injury.
added: “He can beat two men with his power. He’s a unique player and it’s great to have him back in the squad.”
Tuilagi’s punch brings a different threat to England’s midfield – one that could be invaluable given the absence of the Vunipola brothers and probably Courtney Lawes up front – as they prepare to face the Springboks five months after suffering a series defeat in South Africa.
“If Tuilagi comes in to the midfield it brings a whole new dimension for them,” said Springboks stand-off Handre Pollard. “There will be a lot more directness and physicality, something we didn’t face in June.”
There is more though to Tuilagi than simply a battering ram.
“Manu running in a straight line is difficult to deal with but it’s not just that,” said Owen Farrell. “He’s got some brilliant subtleties to his game as well which makes him even more difficult to stop.
“He’s not just your typical big bloke that is predictable, who you can tackle low and round about stop him. He’s a brilliant line runner with good feet and good feel. And obviously he is unbelievably powerful.”