Investec Champions Cup: 'He is relentless' - Experts on veteran England star Manu Tuilagi's future
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Published 10/12/2023 at 15:14 GMT
Manu Tuilagi made his long-awaited return on Sunday afternoon in the Investec Champions Cup against Stade Francais, sparking the inevitable discussions about his future. The England veteran missed the last six weeks with a broken hand, just the latest in a long list of injuries. Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson addressed the issue during the week.
SALFORD, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 10: Manu Tuilagi of Sale Sharks makes his way onto the pitch during the Investec Champions Cup match between Sale Sharks and Stade Francais Paris at AJ Bell Stadium on December 10, 2023 in Salford, England. (Photo by Nathan Sti
Image credit: Eurosport
Sale Sharks veteran Manu Tuilagi made his long awaited season debut on Sunday afternoon in the Investec Champions Cup against Stade Francais, sparking inevitable discussions about his long-term future.
His first appearance of the campaign came after recovering from a hand injury, just the latest in a long list of setbacks that have slowed his career.
TNT Sports pundit Tom May spoke about Tuilagi's presence before the match, arguing that the England veteran remains a major contributor.
He said: "Huge value and they'll be delighted to have him back on the pitch. He plays with a smile on his face. He enjoys being out there. He enjoys being physical and direct."
Continuing, May explained that the burly centre can be useful as both a direct contributor and a distraction.
He said: "The key for Sale is how they use him. There's going to be times when you say 'Manu, here's the ball, go and run through a brick wall and he'll smile and say yes', but you can actually use him to create space. He can take out two or three defenders and not get the ball."
Fellow pundit Sonja McLaughlan then raised the question that everyone had on their minds.
She said: "He's 30-something, and I know he's hoping for another year on his contract here, and actually because of his injuries he probably hasn't played as much rugby as others of his quality and age."
May agreed with McLaughlan, explaining his own perspective as a former player and one who had faced Tuilagi in the heat of battle.
He said: "Amazingly, it's only his 45th club appearance in five years; and the first one for Sale this season. For someone that brings so much value to a team, you know all of those clubs that he's been involved at, would want those numbers to be much higher.
"When you've got someone that's that big, that explosive, you have to manage it. Knowing what it's like to come up against him, he is relentless. The power doesn't go away, it doesn't drop from minute one to minute 80 and that energy that he brings, that he brings to the style of play, that we've seen him bring over a number of years. It's not going."
In 2022, rumours abounded that Tuilagi would leave English rugby in search of a final payday, but instead he stuck with Sale.
Sanderson - Tuilagi has 'contagious energy of a 19-year-old'
Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson spoke to TNT Sports ahead of the match, revealing that Tuilagi's time on the sidelines had done little to dull his enthusiasm.
He said: "A 30-odd-year-old with the contagious energy of a 19-year-old. I asked him what he was looking forward to and he was like 'just getting out there'."
Sanderson also explained how he managed to keep Tuilagi in his press conference ahead of the Investec Champions Cup opener.
He said: "Last year was supposed to be Manu’s last year, but with Jono Ross leaving and Coenie (Oosthuizen) going back (to South Africa), some money in the pot opened up. It was like, ‘Right, brilliant, we can keep you’."
Sanderson continued, saying: "Then when he came back from the World Cup I was like, ‘Right, how are you feeling? You reckon you have got another year in you?’ I don’t know how we are going to do it still, but he is like, ‘Let’s get back on the field and go for another steak’, so we will chat over a glass of wine."
Speaking directly to the issue of Tuilagi's future, Sanderson left the door open.
He said: "He is more enthusiastic, more energetic than most of the 19- and 20-year-olds we have got knocking around the place. His want and desire to play and play again in this Champions Cup on the back of the World Cup, it’s quite astonishing really because it is always the drive that goes first.
"He is loving it. He is loving playing, he is loving being out there, he is probably loving the time he gets to spend away from his house – he has just got a newly-born baby so he gets a bit of a respite. He is bouncing around today, back-slapping and high-fiving, just looking like a guy 10 years younger than he is.”
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