Manu Tuilagi is set for a potential international swansong against France on Saturday after he was named on the bench for the Six Nations finale in Lyon – but Steve Borthwick has urged the powerhouse centre to stay in England next season.
The 32-year-old centre has not played since suffering a groin injury shortly before Christmas on club duty for Sale, but is primed for a first England appearance since the World Cup after being selected as a replacement for Saturday’s match.
Tuilagi is expected to leave the Sharks in the summer and has been linked with lucrative moves to France, Japan and Super Rugby – all of which would render him unavailable for England according to Rugby Football Union regulations. Sale earlier this season hinted they would be open to keeping him, but are struggling to do so within salary cap regulations and, given it is believed Tuilagi has not yet been offered a hybrid contract by the RFU, a move abroad looks all the more likely.
In addition, while a mainstay of England’s midfield during the World Cup, he has been available since the victory over Wales in round two but Borthwick has favoured a midfield combination of Ollie Lawrence and Henry Slade. All of which means that, despite Borthwick’s plea, Tuilagi’s 60th cap on Saturday could well be his last, with a decision expected once the Six Nations has concluded.
“I’m hopeful that he’ll be staying in England, there’s no plan confirmed as yet to my understanding,” said Borthwick, who insisted there was no sentiment behind Tuilagi’s selection. “Manu adds huge amounts to this squad, he’s a player who impacts upon people and he impacts upon games. Ultimately it’s up to Manu and the opportunities that present themselves within England. He knows I would want him to be in England, I want all our best players playing in England.”
Tuilagi made his debut shortly before the 2011 World Cup, aged 20, and Stuart Lancaster and Eddie Jones both subsequently tried to build their backlines around him, only for a litany of injuries to strike. He may well end on 60 caps on Saturday but had he stayed relatively injury free he would have comfortably reached three figures.
“As players develop and grow in their careers, I always think the very best make the other players around them better,” added Borthwick. “The very best players make everyone else 5% or 10% better, because of their presence. And Manu has that effect.”
Borthwick also praised the impact of Tuilagi around the camp during this year’s competition despite his omission hitherto from match-day squads. “His training and his work ethic and what he delivers on the field is always excellent,” he said. “He’s a brilliant influence on the young players, he takes the time and the care with them to help them, and passes his knowledge on.
“He’s socially robust within the group, he’s brilliant at bringing people together. He’s the one at the coffee machine standing making coffee for everyone to sit and chat and spend time with each other. He brings people together.”
France XV: L Barré, D Penaud, G Fickou, N Depoortère, L Bielle-Biarrey, T Ramos, N Le Garrec, G Alldritt (capt), C Ollivon, F Cros, E Meafou, T Flament, U Atonio, J Marchand, C Baille.
England XV: G Furbank, T Freeman, H Slade, O Lawrence, E Daly, G Ford, A Mitchell, E Genge, J George (capt), D Cole, M Itoje, G Martin, O Chessum, S Underhill, B Earl.
With England still in with an outside chance of winning the Six Nations, should Ireland slip up against Scotland, Borthwick has largely kept changes to a minimum against the same France XV who put Wales to the sword. As reported by the Guardian, Elliot Daly replaces Immanuel Feyi-Waboso – who is sidelined with concussion – while Ethan Roots comes in for the injured Chandler Cunningham-South on the bench. Marcus Smith remains among the replacements despite his last-gasp heroics against Ireland with George Ford continuing at fly-half.
“We know there is a physical challenge,” said Borthwick. “Test match rugby is a physical challenge. The two teams probably that pose the biggest physical challenge right now are South Africa and France. And we know that’s coming on Saturday night, we’ve been preparing for it, and I look forward to seeing this next step of our team.”
