Tuilagi: Now I understand
Manu Tuilagi has insisted there will be no repeat of his ferry-jumping exploits at the World Cup now he has been recalled into the England squad.
Tuilagi’s leap off a ferry into Auckland harbour, the day after the World Cup quarterfinal defeat, set the seal on a tournament that was beset by a series of embarrassing off-field incidents involving England players.
The 20-year-old centre’s bid for rugby rehabilitation then suffered a double injury setback with a shattered eye socket and hamstring injury restricting him to just five games for Leicester this season.
But he is back in the England squad and the Samoa-born back, qualified on residency grounds, insisted on Wednesday he now understood the responsibility of representing his adopted country.
“When you wear the Red Rose you go out and represent everyone in the country. That has been clarified,” Tuilagi said.
“That comes from the experiences I had in New Zealand. After that you learn and change things.
“I’ve grown up fast in this environment. I feel I’ve learned a lot and with that experience I’ve grown up as a person as well as a player.
“I didn’t realise before how much attention and scrutiny you get on you as an England rugby player. I realise it now. I realise I’ve got to make better decisions in future,” said Tuilagi, five of whose seven caps to date came at the World Cup.
“The World Cup obviously wasn’t great, but we’ve got the Six Nations now to focus on.
“I had a good World Cup personally. I didn’t expect to play all those games but it feels like I’m almost starting again with England. I have to put in the work.”
Tuilagi is set to play for Leicester against English champions Saracens on Sunday ahead of what he hopes will be a return to Test action against Wales in the Six Nations at Twickenham on February 25.
“I definitely feel fit and ready to play. I’ve been out that long,” said Tuilagi.
“I broke my cheekbone and eye socket in a head to cheek collision with Gloucester’s Scott Lawson. I had an operation to put a titanium plate in because the bone was shattered. There was nothing there.
“Hopefully Sunday’s game against Saracens will go well and I’ll go from there.”
Both England and Wales have won their opening two Six Nations matches and Stuart Lancaster, England’s acting coach, may decide to stick with the Saracens combination of Owen Farrell and Brad Barritt, with Tuilagi on the bench.
However, Tuilagi carries an imposing physical threat which could be useful against powerful Wales centres Jamie Roberts and Jonathan Davies.
“Wales will be a very physical game. They have a big back line, quality players. To hopefully get a chance is exciting,” Tuilagi said.
AFP
