1
Watson and Tuilagi: How injury hell has given away to the time of their lives
Anthony Watson and Manu Tuilagi will be part of England’s World Cup glory bid on Saturday after their triumphs over prolonged injury adversity. Bath wing Watson was in tears after the semi-final victory over New Zealand as the magnitude of what he had achieved began to sink in.
ADVERTISEMENT
He returned to action earlier this year after 13 months’ sidelined due to a ruptured Achilles tendon that twice required surgery. And Leicester centre Tuilagi only played in two England Tests between 2014 and 2019 due to an injury catalogue that included a chronic groin problem.
“I have tried lying and saying that my eye was bleeding, but not too many people believed me,” said Watson, of those post-match images. “I don’t know what it was, to be fair. After the 13 months that I had – this time last year I couldn’t lift my heel off the floor, I could barely walk without a limp – I was very appreciative for the moment that I had there and then.
“It was actually quite ironic that the one person who knew why I was particularly upset or emotional in that moment was actually Manu, who has been through exactly – if not worse – situations. To have someone there with the experience and the skill like Manu was very comforting as well.
“There were two or three very dark days, considering whether I would ever again be able to run at the same speed, change direction and stuff like that. Those days were very tough. I was lucky that I had a very strong support group around me of friends and family.
(Continue reading below…)
“Kyle Sinckler (England prop) is someone who I spoke to regularly about my mindset throughout the injury, and he helped me loads. The physios have been world-class. Bob Stewart (England physiotherapist) took great care of me even when I wasn’t in the set-up. He was texting me on a regular basis, seeing what I was doing, bouncing ideas.”
It has been a similar tale for Tuilagi, with both players having excelled during a tournament that reaches its climax this weekend when England face South Africa in Yokohama. Tuilagi said: “I feel very blessed to be here and to be able to get this opportunity to play in another World Cup.
ADVERTISEMENT
“To be here now, the opportunity to get involved in the final, I never dreamt of it – it was beyond my dreams. For me, I am just thankful to God for his guidance that has got us here where we are today.”
England will go into the final as firm favourites following their stunning success against New Zealand, but they know that another huge performance is required. “The guys that we have got like Owen (Farrell), Mako (Vunipola), Maro (Itoje) as leaders, they won’t be comfortable with any kind of complacency, so we have to make sure we back it up this weekend,” Watson added.
“They (South Africa) are a tough side, physical big men. We are going to have to take it to them on Saturday. We cannot wait for them to bring it to us. If we do that, then it will be a long day in the office.”
ADVERTISEMENT
– Press Association
WATCH: Rassie Erasmus discusses the monumental effect that Siya Kolisi has had on the South African team
Comments on RugbyPass
He would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
1 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
56 Go to commentsThe 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.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to comments