Richard Cockerill urges English selectors to give midfield role to Manu Tuilagi
The director of Leicester Rugby, Richard Cockerill, has urged the English selectors on August 25 to give a midfield role to Manu Tuilagi during their Rugby World Cup 2011 campaign. Cockerill appreciated Tuilagi for his brilliant approach towards the game
and said that the winger has got the ability play at various positions but midfield will suit him best. The former English rugby union footballer predicted that if Tuilagi is given the place on midfield he could be a star for England.
Manu Tuilagi does not have experience in International rugby and has represented England on just one occasion and scored a try in his debut match against Wales. However, he was included in the preliminary squad of England for his offensive style and later
on he sealed his position in the final squad with his impressive output against Wales during a RWC warm-up game.
The 20-year-old Tuilagi, who plays at centre and winger’s position, started off his club rugby with Leicester Tigers in 2010. The winger has emerged himself as a frontline player of his club with his valuable contributions. He has scored 40 points for Leicester
Tigers in just 25 games and grabbed the attention of national selectors.
Ex-English player, Richard Cockerill, has a great faith in Tuilagi as he told the reporters on August 25. Richard Cockerill said that, “I think England have got to start him and, if he gets that opportunity, he could well be the star of the World Cup, For
me, he'd have to start somewhere in the England side whether that's 12 or 13 or he could even play on the wing.”
Comparing Tuilagi with great midfielders for the All Blacks, Ma’a Nonu and Sonny Bill Williams, Cockerill said that, “Nonu or Sonny Bill or any of those big South African centres that want to run at him, he'll hit you and he'll knock you over. For me, he'd
have to start somewhere in the England side whether that's 12 or 13 or he could even play on the wing.”
England will start off its RWC 2011 campaign on September 10 against Argentina in Dunedin.
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