Manu Tuilagi on the 'tough' club or country decision facing Saracens' England players
Manu Tuilagi believes Saracens’ England players will face “a tough decision” at the start of next year’s Six Nations over whether to focus on club or country.
On Monday, the English and European champions chose not to appeal against a 35-point deduction and £5.36million fine for salary cap breaches.
The decision immediately plummeted Saracens to the foot of the Gallagher Premiership on -22 points, 26 adrift of Tuilagi’s own club, Leicester.
England head coach Eddie Jones suggested there would be Saracens players who would “feel like they have got to play for their club instead of their country, to make sure they don’t go down”.
Tuilagi can understand that for England’s World Cup contingent – Owen Farrell, Mako and Billy Vunipola, Jamie George, Jack Singleton, Maro Itoje, George Kruis, Ben Spencer and Elliot Daly – they will be torn as to which way to turn ahead of the Six Nations campaign that begins with a clash against France in Paris on February 2.
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“Obviously, that will be a tough decision for the boys,” said Tigers centre Tuilagi. “They have to play well for the club first, to try and get the club back up to where it normally is. For me, I feel for the boys at Sarries. They are good lads, and I’m sure when it comes to that decision they will make the right one. But it’s going to be a tough one.”
Tuilagi was speaking at an event on behalf of Canterbury, the official partner of the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa in 2021. The 28-year-old was part of the Lions squad for the 2013 tour to Australia, playing in three of the warm-up matches as well as a substitute in the third Test.
'Saracens have become a toxic brand and only time can get them back to where they want to be'
– @chrisjonespress hears one sponsorship expert voice grave concern for the Saracens brand in the marketplace https://t.co/fUYy7BBLSV— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 19, 2019
While Tuilagi knows what it means to represent the Lions, and to be part of the squad to take on the Springboks, he is refusing to look too far ahead. He added: “For me, it was an honour beyond my dreams to play for the Lions. I enjoyed that whole tour. I couldn’t wait to put that jersey on. Fortunately for me, I got to put it on a few times.
“As for 2021, that is a long way away. You have to focus on what is now. You don’t want to focus so far ahead when there are so many games in between. I know if I keep working hard and keep playing well for my club then that will take care of itself.”
– Press Association
WATCH: The Rugby Pod give its reaction to Saracens not appealling the 35-point salary cap deduction
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
37 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
37 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
37 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
37 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
37 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments