Six Nations boost for England as Manu Tuilagi is picked by Sale
Missing England midfielder Manu Tuilagi is poised to play his first match in eleven weeks after he was named on the Sale bench for this Sunday’s Gallagher Premiership game at Harlequins. The powerhouse has been sidelined since damaging a hamstring in the act of scoring for his country against the Springboks on November 20.
That setback happened at Twickenham but Tuilagi will now make his latest comeback from injury just across the road from English Rugby HQ as Alex Sanderson has handed him the No23 Sale shirt for the match at nearby The Stoop against the reigning Premiership champions.
Sanderson had suggested on Wednesday evening that Tuilagi was finally looking good to go after his return had suffered a setback according to England boss Eddie Jones on January 18 when he omitted the centre from the squad of 36 originally named for the Guinness Six Nations which starts this Saturday in Scotland.
England are away to Italy in round two on February 13 but Sanderson would like Tuilagi to build up some game time first at Sale before getting a Test squad recall. “It’s a very definite maybe for this weekend I have to say,” enthused Sanderson at his midweek media briefing when asked about the latest likely return date for Tuilagi.
“He has been out there the last two weeks. This week he has trained really well, looked sharp, looked good, happy. Yes, he is up for selection. Fit.
“More than one game (for Sale) would be advisable. His load has to be incrementally increased. We are over-cautions. That is what we are aiming towards but I am being flexible on either side of that depending on how he feels and his communication with England. I don’t really have a say in it. I have just got to see how he feels, see what the physios say and it is England’s call then really.”
Tuilagi isn’t the only massive world rugby name included on the Sale teamsheet for the first time in ages as Springboks scrum-half Faf de Klerk has also been selected on the bench. He had a hip operation in October after he returned from the Rugby Championship but he is now poised for his first appearance in the Premiership since last June’s semi-final defeat at Exeter.
De Klerk is providing back-up to the starting No9 Raffi Quirke, who was released by England this week. Bevan Rodd, another who didn’t make the England 23, is on the Sale bench while hooker Ewan Ashman will start after his release by Scotland.
SALE (vs Harlequins, Sunday)
15. Luke James; 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Robert du Preez, 12. Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11. Arron Reed; 10. AJ MacGinty, 9. Raffi Quirke; 1. Ross Harrison, 2, Ewan Ashman, 3. Coenie Oosthuizen, 4. Jean-Luc du Preez, 5. Lood de Jager, 6. Jono Ross (capt), 7. Sam Dugdale, 8. Daniel du Preez. Reps: 16. Curtis Langdon, 17. Bevan Rodd, 18. Joe Jones, 19. Jean-Pierre du Preez, 20. Cobus Wiese, 21. Faf de Klerk, 22. Sam James, 23. Manu Tuilagi.
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Think we have to accept we have been on the slide for a while now.Still interesting to see the repeated media pieces about the myth of the ABs slipping-I would say slipped past tense.In part don’t we have to give credit for the improvement of other nations particularly Ireland?Isnt that good for the game?Are we beginning to feel the impact of losing the Boks from Super rugby and maybe soon TRC?I would agree we are also ran right now so will be interesting to see how we progress-assuming we do!Isnt that part of sport though to be in improvement mode?Back to the stats though I think the Boks were under 60% leading into 2019?Now with the focus on the RWC does it matter so much what you are doing between tournaments?You just get through your group(remembering the ABs qualified 2nd in 2023)and then you have 3 matches to win the thing.
Go to commentsThe ABs have more than enough back line guys so don’t see issue there. Just the balance at center and feel time for Rieko to sit out.Forwards- balance still not right. Front row ok but miss Codie. But still ok. Locks- you now need to start s a tall timber at middle of lineout- Darry is the right guy. Then move Sititi to 8, move Ardie to 7 and then move Vaai to blindside. He can become the closest to PSdT . Then have proper bench as this is not a demotion but key to dominating last 30 minutes- Patrick, Ofa etc are golden here. Get the balance right between starters and finishers
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