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Manu Tuilagi injury theory circulating after centre lasts just 15 minutes

By Ian Cameron
(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Many are questioning whether or not Manu Tuilagi was carrying an injury coming into England’s opening Guinness Six Nations match against France at the Stade de France.

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Tuilagi lasted just 15 minutes against the French before being removed from the action.

There was no obvious incident leading to the injury and many were left questioning how fit the centre was coming into the game.

The fact that England head coach Eddie Jones had picked centres on the bench seemed to confirm for many that Tuilagi wasn’t fit coming into the game.

Both Jonathan Joseph and Ollie Devoto were named on the bench, suggesting Jones was expecting that Tuilagi wasn’t likely to finish the match.

Tuilagi has struggled for fitness for the last four years and many fear the reoccurrence of the groin injury that accounted for much of his time spent on the sideline.

The BBC’s Sonia McLoughlin said there was no obvious injury to Tuilagi and that he ‘waved off’ ice when it was brought out.

The loss of both Tuilagi and Billy Vunipola prior to the match left the men in white light on carrying options going into the second half.

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Having been plagued with hamstring and knee injuries between 2014 and 2017, visited a Samoan witch doctor in November, 2017. The witch doctor claimed Tuilagi’s problems were due to three spirits and massaged him for two hours per day, for four successive days to rid him of the spirits.

Jones nicknamed Tuilagi ‘pinball machine’ after his performance in England’s RWC 2019 warmup win over Wales.

WATCH: England player Tom Curry and coach Simon Amor give a press conference ahead of England’s first Six Nations game against France.

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Jon 3 hours ago
The case for keeping the Melbourne Rebels in Super Rugby Pacific

I have heard it asked if RA is essentially one of the part owners and I suppose therefor should be on the other side of these two parties. If they purchased the rebels and guaranteed them, and are responsible enough they incur Rebels penalties, where is this line drawn? Seems rough to have to pay a penalty for something were your involvement sees you on the side of the conned party, the creditors. If the Rebels directors themselves have given the club their money, 6mil worth right, why aren’t they also listed as sitting with RA and the Tax office? And the legal threat was either way, new Rebels or defunct, I can’t see how RA assume the threat was less likely enough to warrant comment about it in this article. Surely RA ignore that and only worry about whether they can defend it or not, which they have reported as being comfortable with. So in effect wouldn’t it be more accurate to say there is no further legal threat (or worry) in denying the deal. Unless the directors have reneged on that. > Returns of a Japanese team or even Argentinean side, the Jaguares, were said to be on the cards, as were the ideas of standing up brand new teams in Hawaii or even Los Angeles – crazy ideas that seemingly forgot the time zone issues often cited as a turn-off for viewers when the competition contained teams from South Africa. Those timezones are great for SR and are what will probably be needed to unlock its future (cant see it remaining without _atleast _help from Aus), day games here are night games on the West Coast of america, were potential viewers triple, win win. With one of the best and easiest ways to unlock that being to play games or a host a team there. Less good the further across Aus you get though. Jaguares wouldn’t be the same Jaguares, but I still would think it’s better having them than keeping the Rebels. The other options aren’t really realistic 25’ options, no. From reading this authors last article I think if the new board can get the investment they seem to be confident in, you keeping them simply for the amount of money they’ll be investing in the game. Then ditch them later if they’re not good enough without such a high budget. Use them to get Jaguares reintergration stronger, with more key players on board, and have success drive success.

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