MANU Tuilagi will want to hit the ground running when Leicester open their campaign against Bath today at Welford Road. However, after virtually three years out of the game with injury it will not as easy as it sounds.
How successful he is will all depend on his mental state. It’s about how well-prepared he is in mind as well as body. The groin injury that kept him out for the longest period of time will have been mentally and physically a very debilitating period. It wears you down psychologically mainly because you do not have a return date.
If, for instance, you break a bone you know that it’s about three months before you will be back training. A groin injury is much more tricky, because you never quite know where you are with it.
Having had the same injury twice during my career I know that it’s hard not having a return date to work towards. I was out for eight or nine months the first time, and the problem is you will test the injury – and sometimes over-test it. And then you are back to the drawing board.
With Tuilagi’s most recent knee problem he seems to have adjusted to it, and has managed to get back into training much more quickly. Even so, it is inevitable that there will be doubt in his mind that his body will hold up, and he will probably feel the odd niggle – but the more you play the more the doubts recede as your confidence grows.
However, his nerves will be all about the injury rather than any jitters over his ability to play top-level rugby again.
As I’ve said before, I’m not interested in a discussion over whether he deserves another chance for England, because his first priority is to get back and start playing well for Leicester. Without that, talk of playing for England is premature.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 03, 2017 من The Rugby Paper.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 03, 2017 من The Rugby Paper.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
England can find a little bit of cheer
SO HERE we are on the final day of England’s autumn international series with all of us hoping and expecting Steve Borthwick’s team to win today after three weeks of bitter disappointment.
Stop messing with Marcus - Campese
DAVID Campese believes England are going backwards under Steve Borthwick, who is ‘messing around’ with talisman Marcus Smith.
Being a Lion was the highlight of my career
I PLAYED 19 games and scored 219 points for the Lions, on the tours to South Africa in 1968 and New Zealand in 1971, but I never played in a Test and that was fair enough.
Cook's crew not fazed as they eye tilt at top half
THERE appear to be few signs of second season syndrome at Westcombe Park as captain Nick Cook reveals the group aren’t even contemplating the threat of relegation and are instead targeting a top-half finish.
Forwards pack a punch for the Reds
OLD Redcliffians produced a proud defensive effort to take a bonus-point win.
Tom 'Ailes' the achievements of inspirational skipper Riley
SEDGLEY Park No. 8 Tom Ailes says his team relish the competitive nature of National One and is confident the Tigers can rectify their rocky start to the season in weeks to come.
Strachan confident Ampthill will be firing again soon
FRASER Strachan is determined to put Ampthill’s leaky defensive showings behind them and gain some much needed confidence in the run up to Christmas.
It's a whole new ball game for Rigg
WILL Rigg’s ambition was to become a professional cricketer but it is the oval ball rather than The Oval that is his driver now.
Scarratt leads the way for Lightning
LOUGHBOROUGH won a wet and windy East Midlands Derby after having the bonus point in the bag by half-time.
Becconsall: We need to release pressure
WILL Becconsall says Exeter are not spooked by the threat of relegation as they look to turn around their Premiership campaign after starting with six straight defeats.
