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Manu Tuilagi reveals new nickname after making England's RWC squad
Eddie Jones has a new nickname for Manu Tuilagi – “the pinball machine”. The Leicester centre didn’t think he would get the chance to be the subject of the England coach’s humour in the build-up to the World Cup, but he was glad to be the reason for some amusement at the squad announcement on Monday for the finals in Japan.
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Tuilagi and the World Cup have not been happy bedfellows. The centre was fined by the RFU and cautioned by police after jumping off a ferry as it docked in Auckland harbour after England were knocked out of the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.
He was then charged with assaulting a police officer in 2015, with then-coach Stuart Lancaster deciding he could not pick a player who had been involved in that kind of incident. If left him ignored for the tournament England were hosting.
Various serious injuries in the years since 2015 put 28-year-old Tuliagi’s career in jeopardy and it has taken an incredible amount of physical and mental effort to allow him to claim one of the 31 places in the England squad for Japan.
Fresh from winning his 33rd England cap in the win over Wales on Sunday, Tuilagi said: “I worried I wouldn’t play in another World Cup. I didn’t think I would be in this position again and so it exciting to be around these players and it is so special.
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Congratulations to the six members of the Leicester Tigers squad who have been announced as members of the 2019 @EnglandRugby Rugby World Cup Squad.https://t.co/jHXtuOzx7j
— Leicester Tigers (@LeicesterTigers) August 12, 2019
“I’m excited to see where the players can take this team. Eddie started calling me ‘pinball machine’ because of my break against Wales at Twickenham and I also have the nickname ‘Chief’!
“Looking back now when I had all of the injuries, all I was thinking about was playing for England again. That is what pulled me through – it was the light at the end of the tunnel.
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“The 2011 Cup does seem a very long time ago in terms of rugby because I have been out a lot with injuries and I’m just thankful I am still playing. There were a lot of dark days between the last World Cup and this one. For me to just go out and train and do what I love is the main thing.
Eddie Jones has named his 31-man England squad for the Rugby World Cuphttps://t.co/K41hq4OZmT
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 12, 2019
“I was watching the 2015 tournament at home and I felt for the boys. That is now long gone and the boys have moved on and the focus is all about taking the learning experience and bring it to this World Cup and we will be much better for it.
“It makes me smile just to be on the team bus pulling up at Twickenham because in the past I took it for granted about being on the pitch and training which is why I now always play with a smile on my face.
“For me, it is a massive honour to represent England at the highest competition in the world. I’m excited and want to make the most of it.”
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WATCH: Owen Farrell talks to Nick Heath of RugbyPass following Monday’s RWC England squad announcement
Comments on RugbyPass
“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.
9 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.
22 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.
9 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 commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to comments