It was a technical error that felt almost symbolic. As Manu Tuilagi gave his final answer, in what might be his last press conference, someone from the French stage crew accidentally pressed the button to lower the curtain.
“I think this is the signal for us,” Tuilagi said with his wide grin, after dismissing questions about a move abroad next season. He sat side by side with scrum coach Tom Harrison, but the media attention was mainly about whether this would be the 60 and out for England’s wrecking ball. It certainly seems that way.
Jamie George asked the 32-year-old to address the squad at Friday night’s team meeting and share all his experiences since his Test debut in 2011. A time for reflection. “I remember when I first walked in and Jonny Wilkinson stood up and shook my hand,” Tuilagi recalls. ‘He said, ‘Nice to meet you Manu’ and I was like… ‘Okay!’ It was amazing.
“I remember being the youngest there and fucking myself. Coming in and meeting all the players you’ve seen on TV, the players you look up to. I was surprised that I was in the same room. And for me, being on this team, in the same room as these guys, I still feel the same.”
He laughed his way through the questions about the past. Remember jumping off the ferry at Auckland Harbor in 2011? ‘That was fun! Life is fun, if you want it to be.” He discussed his role in the famous victory over the All Blacks the following year, when most of the current squad were still schoolboys.
Manu Tuilagi was keen to avoid talk of his future before what could be his final game for England
The 32-year-old could move abroad next season and bring the curtain down on his international career
But when the questioning reached his plans for next season, Tuilagi kept his cards close to his chest. “I don’t really know what I’m going to do tomorrow,” said the veteran, who will be pushed out of the Sale Sharks squad this summer due to the salary cap.
He will be on the bench for England this weekend, playing the supporting role to long-term successor Ollie Lawrence, in what will be Tuilagi’s first England appearance since the World Cup.
He missed the opening rounds with a groin tear. Another campaign, another injury. His career has been destroyed by them and he has become accustomed to playing through the pain barrier.
In an injury-plagued career, Tuilagi has become accustomed to playing through the pain barrier
He gave what seemed like leaving advice, telling the next generation to ‘enjoy it’
“If you can play as a rugby player then you will,” he said. ‘There are no two ways about it. After the (World Cup) match against Samoa I knew my hand was broken. I said to the doctor who took the x-ray, “Can I play with this?” He said, “It’s up to you.” I thought, “Great, cheers, thank you.” So that’s it. It’s just pain. That’s what I tell my children. It’s just pain. So now, even when they’re crying, I say to them, “What’s wrong?” and they reply, “It’s just pain!”
Regardless of injuries, Tuilagi will go down as one of the best English players of his generation. But signing a contract for next season, this could be the time to hand over his heavyweight mantle. And when the curtain fell, he gave one piece of advice to the next generation: “I always say enjoy it, enjoy being around the people you have. You can always learn from them, help each other. You never know when it will be the last time with those people.’
