‘Joshua is a coward’
Tuilagi fit and ready to remind everyone of that epic victory over All Blacks at Twickenham in 2012
DEONTAY WILDER has branded Anthony Joshua “a coward” – then admitted he is puzzled by Tyson Fury.
The American blames his fellow world champion for a breakdown in talks over a Wembley unification clash – and he will now defend his heavyweight title against Fury in LA on December 1.
Wilder said: “It’s all about Fury. I don’t want anyone to ask me about Joshua. He was a coward.
“I don’t know what Fury’s weaknesses are. I’ve never dealt with anyone who possesses what he has.
“But I feel wonderful. My mindset and body has changed. I feel like a killer.” MANU TUILAGI, architect of England’s greatest win over New Zealand, has been given the all-clear for another crack at the world champions.
The wrecking-ball centre scored a try (right) and made two more as England smashed the All Blacks 38-21 six years ago. Injuries have dogged him since that record-breaking win, with a hamstring strain forcing him out of the narrow victory over South Africa last Saturday.
But last night he was passed fit and Eddie Jones, reeling from the loss of flanker Tom Curry for the rest of the autumn, immediately recalled the 27-year-old for a contest which has all of rugby licking its lips.
“We want to throw our game plan at them so it’s great to have Manu back,” said Ben Youngs. “We’re not looking to contain, we’re not going out and seeing what they’ve got.
“Against the All Blacks you have to score tries. It’s about really taking the game to them, with or without the ball. We all know what a worldclass operator Manu is.”
If England needed any reminder of how potent a rugby force New Zealand are, Will Carling was back in a Red Rose tracksuit yesterday to pass on his experience. Carling, hired as a mentor, captained England to victory over the All Blacks in 1993 – but was also on the end of Jonah Lomu’s unforgettable four-try salvo at the World Cup two years later.
With defence coach John Mitchell a former All Blacks boss and forwards Dylan Hartley and Brad Shields both born and raised in New Zealand, there is no shortage of inside knowledge.
Shields captained a Hurricanes team full of All Blacks until earlier this year. He even lodged with star fly-half Beauden Barrett this summer.
Shields tried to play down the magnitude of Saturday’s clash for him, but All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster admitted there were “mixed opinions” on his defection.
“You’ll probably find people and family that are close that support it,” he said. “Others may have a different view on players jumping into a national team from another country so quickly.” Charlie Ewels (Bath), Jamie George (Saracens), Dylan Hartley (Northampton), Alec Hepburn (Exeter), Maro Itoje and George Kruis (Saracens), Courtney Lawes (Northampton), Zach Mercer (Bath), Ben Moon (Exeter), Brad Shields (Wasps), Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins), Sam Underhill (Bath), Harry Williams (Exeter), Mark Wilson (Newcastle)
Chris Ashton (Sale), Danny Care (Harlequins), Elliot Daly (Wasps), Owen Farrell (Saracens), George Ford and Jonny May (Leicester), Jack Nowell and Henry Slade (Exeter), Ben Te’o (Worcester), Manu Tuilagi and Ben Youngs (Leicester)