Wednesday, 28 September 2011

Tuilagi Plays Down Super 15 Chatter


Manu Tuilagi has played down speculation he could move to Super 15, insisting he never wants to give up playing for England.

The Leicester centre's brother, Freddie, is out at the World Cup and told a local newspaper over the weekend that he was exploring options in New Zealand.

"We're already talking to a few people. In the future he (Manu) wants to explore different options and experience Super 15," he was quoted as saying.

If Tuilagi was to leave England he would be ineligible for international selection under new Rugby Football Union regulations.

And the 20-year-old, who has scored four tries in his first five Tests, insisted he could not consider giving up on England.
Happy

"I am really happy to be at Leicester. I have still got a couple of years there. I am not really thinking about the future. I am just thinking about this World Cup and the game on Saturday," said Tuilagi.

"I am loving playing rugby for England. This is my first World Cup and hopefully it won't be my last.

"When you do something you like, you want to do it all your life.

"I would love to carry on playing for England and win some matches.

"It means everything to get to this level. I feel pretty lucky to be playing for Leicester and England. I am really happy."

Tuilagi's brother suggested Manu had to keep his options open because "maybe 12 months down the line he won't be picked by England".

But Tuilagi is fast making himself a fixture in the England team and he is set to start his fourth consecutive World Cup game in Saturday's decisive Pool B showdown with Scotland.
Freak

Mike Tindall described his centre partner as "a freak, in the nicest possible way" after Tuilagi's destructive performance in England's 67-3 victory over Romania.

"I take that as a compliment," said Tuilagi, who could not have appeared more laid back three days before the biggest game of his short career. "I will just go there and play my normal game, play to my strengths and be tough. I am looking forward to it.

"I like to get nervous before the games but not too much. It keeps you alert and you know you are thinking about the game.

"Scotland are very direct and I think their loss against Argentina will make them even more hard to beat because they need this win - but we need this win as well.

"This is not a Six Nations game - it is a World Cup and it will be a different animal."

England manager Martin Johnson will confirm his side to face Scotland overnight.

Lock Courtney Lawes is available to start after serving a two-match ban and prop Matt Stevens has shaken an ankle injury, while Delon Armitage is reported to have been preferred to Mark Cueto on the wing.