'If you run into him, he will hit you bl***y hard'
Whether it is training, matches or chess, Manu Tuilagi likes a fast start and he will hope to help England do just that on Saturday when they host Wales in the penultimate round of fixtures in the 2020 Guinness Six Nations.
The Grand Slam champions visit Twickenham on the back of consecutive defeats and Eddie Jones’ men will be favourites to inflict a third straight loss on the visitors.
A groin injury at the start of the tournament saw Tuilagi replaced early into the defeat at France on February 2 and he subsequently missed the victory away to Scotland.
The Leicester centre was able to return for the clash with Ireland to play a key role, especially in pushing the hosts over the gainline on their way to an excellent victory.
“I just want to get the ball in my hands as early as possible. It sorts you out for the rest of the game,” Tuilagi said.
“I try to get us over the gainline early on, get some momentum. If we get that it’s easier to play off, whether to kick or carry on running. We got that (against Ireland) and we had a good start. Hopefully we will look to do the same.”
This is not just Tuilagi’s philosophy for games, it applies to training and also the hobby he has picked up during the World Cup in Japan.
Describing himself as “obsessed” with chess, the 29-year-old has enjoyed several games with his club-mates at Leicester and has rivals in the England set-up too.
“If I’m in white, I’ll attack,” Tuilagi added. “If you’re in white you have the opportunity to attack first.
“When you attack you have to go all in. As soon as you let your foot off the gas you’ll be losing.”
England head coach Jones could call upon a powerful part of his chess set on Saturday if he reunites the heroes from the World Cup quarter-final win over Australia.
A midfield combination of Owen Farrell, Tuilagi and Henry Slade put the Wallabies to the sword and with the Exeter back now fit again, after suffering a serious ankle injury in December, the trio could be unleashed.
“Obviously I love having him back in the team. He’s an outstanding player,” Tuilagi said of Slade.
“If he’s on the field, I just give him the ball and try and follow him around because he’s an all-round player. Run, kick, pass. There’s a lot of options.”
The feeling is mutual, with Slade reflecting on his relationship with the outside-centre in glowing terms.
“I think the reason it works so well is because we have different strengths and weaknesses and complement each other nicely,” the Chiefs player said.
“He’s a massive bloke so he gets us over the gainline really well, but we can also use him as a decoy as well.
“Defensively, if you run into him, he will hit you bl***y hard as well, so he is good to play with in terms of getting us on the front foot then freeing up our other options, and we get on pretty well off the pitch as well, so it is nice.”
Slade’s versatility has been crucial for Jones, but the 26-year-old makes no secret his favoured role is centre.
He replaced Tuilagi in that position – rather than partner him – in the final exchanges of the 24-12 win over Ireland and will aim to show this week he is fit enough to get the nod from the off.
What he does not expect to happen any time soon, though, is to get the better of his fellow international in chess.
“I have only played him a couple of times and it has lasted about 30 seconds each time,” Slade added. “He is unbelievable at it.”
Prop Mako Vunipola is unavailable for the clash with Wales and in self-isolation as a precaution due to coronavirus fears, after flying back from Tonga via Hong Kong at the weekend.
He missed the clash with Ireland due to unspecified personal reasons but Tuilagi helped make up for the lack of his gainline-bursting power and the onus will be on him to do the same again this Saturday.
Nadolo signs for Leicester Tigers:
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments