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The Manu Tuilagi verdict on England rule as he heads to the Top 14
Manu Tuilagi has insisted there are no regrets over his international career as he prepares to leave the English game. The England centre will play what could be his final home game for Sale Sharks on Friday before he joins French Top 14 club Bayonne in the summer.
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With overseas-based players not considered for selection by England, the 32-year-old’s 60th cap – earned against France in March – looks set to be his last.
It is a figure that could have been much higher but for numerous injury problems, not to mention some disciplinary issues, but Tuilagi looked back on his time in a national jersey with satisfaction.
He said: “Whatever you plan or what you want, sometimes you don’t get that, and that’s just life. I’m just so happy. I can’t believe I have played 60 times for England.
“I’m just thankful and blessed that I was able to play that amount of times. Once is amazing, but to even get over 10 is unbelievable.”
Tuilagi felt the time was probably right to draw a line under an England career that began in 2011. “I think so,” he continued. “It was a tough decision, but it’s another part of my journey. I’m getting old as well.
“The best thing is that we have players that are getting there nicely, the likes of Ollie Lawrence, Henry Slade, those guys. They will be huge for England for a long time.
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“The England team at the moment is unbelievable – the way that we finished off in the Six Nations. For me now, to be a fan and watch, I can’t wait. It’s exciting.”
Tuliagi admitted he would not say no to England again were the Rugby Football Union to change policy and make players based abroad eligible for selection, but he accepted that seems unlikely.
He said: “What will be will be. If it does happen, it’ll be brilliant. If it doesn’t, it’s just life, I guess. But it would be nice for players to be able to play anywhere and still play for England.”
For now, Tuilagi’s immediate focus is on a winning send-off with Sale, the club he joined in 2020 after 11 years with Leicester. Coincidentally the Sharks host the Tigers on Friday before wrapping up their regular season campaign at Saracens.
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Currently sixth in the Gallagher Premiership, the Sharks remain in contention for a top-four play-off spot and a shot at the title. Tuilagi said: “It’s emotional. It has been an unbelievable four years and I have loved every minute of it.
“We are excited to get out on Friday night. It’s a massive game against Leicester. It’s just going out there giving it all we have got for hopefully the last four games.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Average AB captain by recent standards. Speaks to the wider issue
7 Go to commentsWholesome lad, but no longer test level. At all
7 Go to commentsThis game was always going to be close, Canada have such a dominant pack and the Black Ferns have come unstuck in that area against teams like France and England in the past.
2 Go to commentsA distinct discomfort with the officiating they were probably selected from the local IRA narcos branch along with the commentators bloody fly tippers.
1 Go to commentsWow, never thought I would read that
2 Go to commentsExcellent match. Great to see Keenan and Ryan back for Leinster. Super result for Ulster. Season is turning around.
1 Go to comments“We need eight or nine new players, who are hard-wearing and durable and experienced Premiership performers”. So why are they scouting a retired fullback who himself admits that his “body is broken”?
1 Go to commentsBrumbies hand, knocked a Crusaders hand. Therefore, knock on in goal. Crusaders, goal line drop out should’ve been awarded. most likely after that 24 each at full time, so extra time would’ve been the right an entertaining outcome. Act Jim
1 Go to commentsSpeell cehck
1 Go to commentsColeman is gaawwwwnnn.
1 Go to commentsnext SA head coach?
3 Go to commentsGreat try by van Poortvliet.
1 Go to commentsThey have been cruelled by injuries but almost nobody (Sevu Reece and Fletcher Newell big exceptions) has played above himself which regularly happened before. Surely Scott Robertson had maintained the recruitment programme and it looks like a reasonable squad. Last in this competition will stall a lot of careers. Penny seems likeable. But it’s not enough even though this was better. We haven’t been good enough and it’s not helped by the “it’s been 15 years since… “etc “after nearly every match. Seems somehow a soft gifting of something once valuable. Kieran Read giving comments last week almost choked describing the easy surrender of possession by the forwards. I’d love to think that the senior players some of whom are back can show enough pride in the jersey to test the Blues next week.
3 Go to commentsWho will Joe select for the back three with so many in form candidates? Just hope he doesn’t get shafted like Dave Rennie and to a lesser extent Deans.
8 Go to commentsAlways reluctant to blame a coach when losses rack up, but Penney must go. The backline is dysfunctional and the coach must carry the can. No cohesion, no idea and in many cases, minimal skill. The trains out of Roma St depart faster than the ball from Crusaders’ set pieces. Wouldn’t be surprised if the forwards went on strike.
3 Go to commentsAdding to earlier comment. Cullen Grace has been playing great at no6. Lio-Willie , who was on fire a few weeks ago, had a bad game. I think Cullen should have been moved to 8 earlier, Dominic Gardiner on earlier. Feel for Quinten Strange , put in a big shift .
8 Go to commentsWe dominated the scrums Ben Curry was all over pitch again .Surely James Harper got to be one of best English tightheads
1 Go to commentsRoos is a better option at 6 than 8 for the boks. Needs to work on his windgat though.
1 Go to commentsThe Sharks’ 2nd team maybe?
1 Go to comments‘radical’
1 Go to comments