Close menu

Manu Tuilagi: England's Leicester centre set to return against Australia

Last updated on .From the section Rugby Unioncomments141

Manu Tuilagi
Manu Tuilagi last played for England in March 2016 against Wales

Manu Tuilagi is expected to make his long-awaited England return in their final autumn international against Australia on 24 November.

The Leicester centre was expected to play against South Africa in the first match of the autumn, but he suffered a groin injury in training.

Saturday's fixture against 2019 World Cup hosts Japan will come too soon, but defence coach John Mitchell says Tuilagi could face the Wallabies.

"Manu is progressing nicely," he said.

"He was doing some running intervals with the medical team. We'll make a decision once he's at 100% but we're working him towards the Australia game.

"It's an adductor injury that needs to be trained at high intensity.

"He hasn't reached high intensity yet, so he is progressing towards that."

Former New Zealand coach Mitchell believes England are closing the gap on the All Blacks after suffering a one-point defeat to the world champions last weekend.

Steve Hansen's men overturned a 15-point advantage to lead 16-15, before Sam Underhill's late score was disallowed because of a tight offside call against Courtney Lawes in the build-up to the try.

"It was a really good performance, a real ding-dong and a game of inches," Mitchell said.

"You can be critical of some costly errors as the game wore on and there was a big moment in terms of a TMO decision.

"If you put all those things aside and look at where we want to head to, we got a lot of belief out of it.

"The gap is very small, but there's still a gap that we want to continue to narrow and clearly we've got time to do that."

Comments

Join the conversation

These comments are now closed.

141 comments

  • Comment posted by The Holy Hooker, at 17:38 14 Nov 2018

    With Manu, sadly it's case of hope for the best but plan for the worst. I wish him the best, but he shouldn't be central to any RWC 2019 plans.
    Meanwhile we should try to get our elite players contracted to England and protected from overuse, as Ireland and NZ do.
    Surely no coincidence that the #1 and #2 nations both have fewer long-term injury issues and central contracts?

  • Comment posted by Spesh, at 17:25 14 Nov 2018

    EJ can't win really if he picks him he will be slated for "dropping" someone, and if he doesn't pick him he will need a spectacular display from both centres or the knives will be out.

  • Comment posted by birdmandog, at 17:26 14 Nov 2018

    Feel so sorry for Tuilagi, just seems to me he needs to put together a run of ten games for Leicester, give himself the confidence of knowing he can play without being injured all the time, and only then do we worry about England. Can't help feeling that this poor chap's career is permanently blighted by folk trying to rush him back from injury too soon. Wonderful player so let's treat him right

  • Comment posted by blues1959, at 20:54 14 Nov 2018

    Don't know if is just me but what about Elliot Daley in centre and try someone else at full back

  • Comment posted by Logical reasoning , at 17:03 14 Nov 2018

    When fit he is one of the few true game changers that England have. Players with his ability to change games are few and far between for every nation, bar NZ perhaps, and as a result he should be given every chance to get back into the team. Unfortunately he just seems too injury prone, and if he doesn't play in the 6N I'm not sure we can justify bringing him to Japan.

  • Comment posted by Logical reasoning , at 21:52 14 Nov 2018

    "Don't know if is just me but what about Elliot Daley in centre and try someone else at full back"

    Totally agree, Slade hasn't really done much with the shirt so I reckon Daly she be given a shot at 13, in his club position.

  • Comment posted by Pedro, at 22:22 14 Nov 2018

    Yep, Daley is one to keep in the side, but isn't doing well at fullback. Where to slot him in is a problem though if Tuilagi is coming in. In the last two matches, both centres have been fair, but a little anonymous. Maybe Tuilagi at inside centre and Daley outside? Pleasing to see the strength in depth in the back row, especially when the injury list shortens. Maybe keep the locks at lock now?

  • Comment posted by RoundTheHorn, at 20:11 14 Nov 2018

    @ 26

    No room in your squad for Mark Wilson ?

    Robshaw back in ? Seriously you need to watch more rugby

  • Comment posted by countrybay, at 22:38 14 Nov 2018

    Daly at full back was the bandwagon of 12 months ago despite playing precious little there. I love Slade but Daly's best position is 13 by a mile, though he does a good impression of a left winger. I think he's shown that full back isn't quite as easy to just step into at int level. Surely with Watson, Brown, Goode and other experienced back 3 players this is an experiment that can stop.

  • Comment posted by Justin150, at 20:59 14 Nov 2018

    #76 BV is one of the best heavy traffic ball carriers in the world, always over the gain line, he draws in defenders and creates space for others, and unlike many No 8s he passes the ball as well. Also solid in defence

    But he is not a line out threat and never will be. That is why Curry, who is a very good line out operator needs to play in back row

  • Comment posted by Blues Fan, at 17:47 14 Nov 2018

    @26. Posted by sirjonny - Wilson has had 2 excellent games at 8 against two of the form sides in the world and ne'er a word said about him, I think he'll be in the mix at 6 or 8.

    Watson at 15. At least he can get under a high ball.

    Cips is never coming near a red rose shirt again. Faz/Ford

  • Comment posted by Segnes , at 17:38 14 Nov 2018

    I'm with 8 (Anglophone): Tuilagi would make a lethal impact substitute, and so would the Vunipola brothers, particularly if tactics could be varied to exploit their simultaneous arrival. That would allow England to begin with a scrummaging pack, a tackling back row and a positional game to build up a lead from penalty goals and kick chases before piling on the driving stuff: could work well.

  • Comment posted by Hungry John, at 17:26 14 Nov 2018

    @14
    Where were NZ on your scale when SA beat them recently?
    As for Manu, I hope he doesn't get rushed in- Australia looked very physical in defence against Wales and it would be a shame to see him sidelined. Again.

  • Comment posted by T1000, at 16:53 14 Nov 2018

    I'm sorry to say it but I can't see Manu ever putting a string of games together. What ever this groin issue is, it seems to be here to stay.

  • Comment posted by Pedro, at 22:26 14 Nov 2018

    And it would be nice to see Tuilagi go through the match (or until subbed) without injury, assuming he's picked to start. Not sure I'd put my pension on it though. Hopefully Japan will be a good ease back into international rugby for him and maybe he'll be a real threat against Australia, all being well.

  • Comment posted by Spesh, at 18:42 14 Nov 2018

    The trouble with MT is he is capable of scoring tries like the one against the Scarlets, so will always be considered for England. Personally I wouldn't risk him as a starter but bring him on after 55 - 60 then see what he can do, we don't have anything to lose as if he performs, great for 6N and WC if he stays fit.

  • Comment posted by Hungry John, at 17:59 14 Nov 2018

    @27 "Atrocious at times but still could have won"...but didn't. Presumably, the two interception tries were because their passing was a bit below par. Oh, and the easy kicks must have been because BB was...below par. Yawn. Teams lose because on some level, the opposition were better in the day. England lost because we weren't as good as NZ. Or, put another way, "were atrocious but could have won".

  • Comment posted by Finkelstein, at 19:29 14 Nov 2018

    When Manu Tuilagi is fit and his head is in the right place he is capable of being a game changer. I think he is fine centre but not first choice. He is certainly a risk but lets see how he performs. Australia will target him big time.

    Sadly his off field conduct has been his achilles and has sullied his reputation. Last chance saloon for him to prove himself.

  • Comment posted by Ruckedout, at 19:05 14 Nov 2018

    Dangerous player when on the front foot, but has his problems when under pressure. If I as English would want him in my team, but he needs to get his head right.

  • Comment posted by jon, at 17:53 14 Nov 2018

    Plenty of time for him to tear a bicep, pull a hamstring, or similar...

Top Stories

Also in Sport

Elsewhere on the BBC

Featured