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The Sale verdict on Manu Tuilagi being omitted by England
By Chris Jones
Sale boss Alex Sanderson believes that a simmering Manu Tuilagi is ready to prove that his England career isn’t over when he faces Northampton at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday. Tuilagi saw Bath’s Ollie Lawrence chosen in the defence-busting role against Italy after Harlequins’ Joe Marchant was the previous weekend picked to partner Test captain Owen Farrell in the loss to Scotland.
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Those selection decisions by new England boss Steve Borthwick left the Sale centre surplus to requirements the last two weekends in the Guinness Six Nations. Club boss Sanderson has now spoken to all of his unwanted England players – Tuilagi, Bevan Rodd and Jonny Hill – who have been left out of head coach Borthwick’s latest 26-man training squad and is confident they are mentally and physically ready to take on the Saints.
The Sale team will also feature fit-again Tom Curry and out-half George Ford, who is 40 minutes into his comeback from serious injury. Sanderson wouldn’t be surprised if both were added to the England squad next week in the build up to the round three Test match versus Wales in Cardiff on February 25.
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Tuilagi especially wants to force his way back in and prove that he is not yesterday’s man for England at the age of 31. Sanderson said: “Manu is all smiles but underneath I sense a simmering and he definitely wants to show the powers at be that they made the wrong decision in not selecting him. I would say he has a point to prove – all our England boys do.
“We have done the right thing by him and maybe it is a stroke of genius by Steve to motivate Manu to produce some of his best rugby. The more game time Manu gets, the more special things we are going to see. We have to make sure that doesn’t boil over into indiscipline or hurting someone.
“Manu is one of the world’s best centres with a point to prove and I would be daft not to pick him this weekend. Obviously England, to some degree, must be questioning his recent form and he has been good for us with more game time and more robust. That is what we wanted to fix with managing his loading and he is feeling fresh.
“We have addressed the England situation (with the players) and if they were still kicking stones then I wouldn’t be doing my job right. They wouldn’t be resilient enough and it won’t be the first time in this environment. I am impressed with how excited they are and we have to make sure they are on Sale’s page not England’s.
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“Tom Curry is available this weekend and it is the same with George Ford. If they can prove they are fit and in form, there is a very good chance they will be included (by England). It will be up to Steve to decide about George after seven months out with 40 minutes and whatever he gets at the weekend, but he is looking really sharp. He is right back on the bike and making a big impact at training.”
Ben Curry, the starting openside versus Scotland, was the only Sale player named by Borthwick in the squad of 26 for this week’s Six Nations fallow week training camp in London.
Personally, I think Smith should move to Fullback and Freddie to the bench. Being a Springbok supporter I have always wanted to ask why the English commentators are so biased in their commentary. People ask me in the pub on match day "why do non-English supporters hate England so much?" The answer is simple...the commentators are absolute rubbish!! Again on Saturday they talk about the England Juggernaut getting going and just talk as if England are the best in the world...when they are up. When they are down in score, then they have all the answers and all the excuses. RFU would be able to save millions on marketing if they just got decent commentators that don't irritate the rest of the world and we would not have to turn OFF the commentary in the PUB, of all places!!!!