MIGHTY MANU ROARING AGAIN
MANU TUILAGI was back to his barnstorming best as Leicester’s big guns fired for new boss Geordan Murphy.
Ben Youngs had demanded Tigers’ England stars front up for the new gaffer and they delivered in style at Welford Road.
George Ford led the way with 29 points – scoring the first try after just 107 seconds – and England team-mate Jonny May weighed in with two of his own.
But the moment of the match came when Tuilagi, finally free of injury after four lost years, took a pass from Kyle Eastmond on halfway and powered through Newcastle’s defence to score.
“It was fantastic to see Manu drop the hammer and finish the way he did,” said Murphy of his wrecking ball centre, who had the 20,045 crowd on its feet.
“When you get the ball in Manu’s hands, he’s in form and his head is on, he’s one of the best in the world.
Murphy, who revealed that 64 applications had been received on day one for the job he has on an interim basis after Matt O’Connor’s sacking, only wants what is best for the club he loves.
His players are clearly desperate for him to get it full time, wrapping up the four-try bonus point in just 25 minutes.
To their credit Falcons blasted back, matching Tigers’ five tries and leaving boss Dean Richards frustrated that they had given his old club such a head start.
Meanwhile, Brad Shields suffered a broken cheekbone on his Wasps debut and is a doubt for England’s autumn internationals.
The forward will see a specialist tomorrow to decide if he needs surgery.