At the end of a mediocre autumn Test series that caused no little concern considering it came less than a year before the 2015 World Cup, Stuart Lancaster was asked what could improve his England side. His answer, as so often the case with Lancaster, was to the point: “Manu”.
Last week Eddie Jones was more effusive with his praise for the only England player capable of “ripping New Zealand apart” – a pointed remark considering the British & Irish Lions’ second Test victory against the All Blacks on 1 July. Jones described Manu Tuilagi as “worth time, worth effort and worth a lot of care” but 72 hours later the Leicester centre, along with Denny Solomona, was leaving England’s pre-season training camp in disgrace. We will soon find out just how much time, effort and care Jones deems the 26-year-old injury-plagued centre to be worth.
(June 1, 2010) Wins fight against deportation
Related: Manu Tuilagi’s England return in doubt after drunken night out at camp
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