England set to unleash their secret weapon Manu Tuilagi on Wales
There is even a chance, as predicted by the normally understated Jonny Wilkinson, that England have unearthed a force of nature capable of transforming not just their immediate World Cup prospects but the wider landscape of rugby. Wilkinson's claim that England have not introduced a more striking game-changing talent since the great Jason Robinson is a bold one but there is not a single current England squad member who disagrees. Tuilagi is only 20 but he could yet be the catalyst Martin Johnson needs to transform his squad into serious World Cup contenders.
Johnson, as he was obliged to do, made a point of saying he could have fielded another XV of equal strength to the one he will send out on Saturday. But the more one looks at this team-sheet, the more one wonders if the midfield could yet prove the answer to Johnson's biggest conundrum. On paper, the sheer power and explosiveness of Tuilagi allied to the footballing skill of a fit-again Riki Flutey is not far short of the perfect centre combination. Graft on Wilkinson's defensive ability and kicking prowess, plus a versatile back three, and it is possible to imagine a far more fluent red rose midfield than has lately been the case.
The only snag, of course, is that Johnson does not have months or years in which to bed down his 10th different centre partnership in 31 Tests. There is also the priceless experience of Mike Tindall to factor into the equation. The testimony of his team-mates, even so, suggests the coming man is arriving at freight-train speed. "I'd never run at him, I'll tell you that," said Delon Armitage, starting at full-back for the first time since the 2010 Six Nations. "He's definitely ready."
As recently as May that assessment did not look a formality. He appeared distinctly nervous on his Saxons debut against Italy A in January, while his high-profile assault on Chris Ashton in last season's Premiership semi-final has also taught him the importance of discipline. "You learn from your mistakes and come back a better player," Tuilagi said. "I've surprised myself really. This time last year I wasn't even playing for Leicester."
Johnson, though, has seen enough in training to convince him Tuilagi can handle the step up to Test level and, potentially, eclipse the deeds of his four older Test-playing brothers. "He's got great awareness, he's not just a power runner," said the England team manager, confident the unsavoury Ashton episode will prove a one-off. "We wouldn't put him out there if we thought that was an issue." No member of the Tuilagi family, however, has ever displayed a reluctance to rush up and legitimately clatter anything in front of them, and Manu is no different. "I was born with that," he said, insisting any rugby-related discomfort was a minor detail compared to the pain he endured this summer. A village elder back in Samoa took the opportunity to decorate him with a massive tribal tattoo which covers much of his right arm and biceps; it took 14 hours to complete although, to Manu's relief, the artwork was performed with needles rather than the traditional whale bone.
Amid all this talk of eye-watering Samoan customs, it was almost possible to overlook the fact England will have two more uncapped players on the bench this weekend. The Saracens lock Mouritz Botha and the Gloucester wing Charlie Sharples can both expect to see some game time, even if their chances of selection for Johnson's final World Cup 30 remain uncertain, but this particular selection is also notable for the number of established players keen to prove a point.
The Saracens prop Matt Stevens will make his first England appearance since November 2008, while Lewis Moody is back from the knee ligament injury which ruled him out of the Six Nations. Simon Shaw will be grateful for his chance in the second row, while Danny Care starts at scrum-half in the absence of the still injured Ben Youngs. It is also the first time England have capped a Ricoh Black Ram, James Haskell having negotiated a short-term deal with the Japanese club to play in Asia after the World Cup. Haskell, who will wear No8 having operated on the open-side flank during the Six Nations, is choosing to take the long road home to Wasps in 2012-13, having also decided to enjoy a stint in the Super 15.The only downside is that, as a result, this weekend may prove to be his last Twickenham outing for a while.
The same could, conceivably, apply to Toulon's Wilkinson, the Rugby Football Union having indicated it will favour home-based players over ex-pats from next year. Given, however, that the upper echelons of the RFU remain in administrative chaos and that the fly-half is currently fitter than he has ever been, Wilkinson may yet be granted the special exemption his long and distinguished service record clearly deserves.
England D Armitage (London Irish); M Banahan (Bath), M Tuilagi (Leicester), R Flutey (Wasps), M Cueto (Sale Sharks); J Wilkinson (Toulon), D Care (Harlequins); A Corbisiero (London Irish), D Hartley (Northampton), M Stevens (Saracens), S Shaw (unattached), T Palmer (Stade Français), T Croft (Leicester), L Moody (Bath, capt), J Haskell (Ricoh Black Rams).
Replacements L Mears, D Wilson (both Bath), M Botha (Saracens), T Wood (Northampton), R Wigglesworth (Saracens), C Hodgson (Saracens), C Sharples (Gloucester).
Wales R Priestland (Scarlets); G North (Scarlets), J Davies (Scarlets), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), S Williams (Ospreys); S Jones (Scarlets), M Phillips (Bayonne); P James (Ospreys), H Bennett (Ospreys), C Mitchell (Exeter), B Davies (Cardiff Blues), AW Jones (Ospreys), D Lydiate (NG Dragons), S Warburton (Cardiff, capt), T Faletau (NG Dragons).
Replacements L Burns (NG Dragons), R Bevington (Ospreys), L Charteris (NG Dragons), R Jones (Ospreys), T Knoyle (Scarlets), S Williams (Scarlets), M Stoddart (Scarlets).
source : http://www.guardian.co.uk/
0 Response to "England set to unleash their secret weapon Manu Tuilagi on Wales"
Post a Comment