Rugby World Cup 2019: Manu Tuilagi convinced Japan will be his final shot with England

Manu Tuilagi believes the toll that his four-year run of injuries has taken on his body means this Rugby World Cup campaign will be his last.

The 28-year-old may be yet to hit his peak given his age, and having been named man of the match in his last two starts for England, could well prove their most influential player in Japan this month.

But when asked whether he believes he will still be around come France 2023, the man known as ‘Chief’ within the squad was in little doubt of where he would place his bets, answering: “Probably not. I’ll be too old. I already feel it!

“I know that it is not going to last forever, that it is not going to last very long so I have got to enjoy the moment while it is here.”

Tuilagi has enjoyed a strong start to the tournament, scoring two tries in the opening win over Tonga before sitting out the victory against the United States, and he is in line to return this Saturday to line up alongside George Ford and Owen Farrell once again in an effort to end Argentina’s World Cup dream and book their place in the last eight in the process.

For the centre, it will complete his World Cup circle, having made his first appearance in the competition against the Pumas at the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. Back then, Tuilagi was able to train as much as he wanted, play as much as he wanted and do whatever he wanted on and off the field, only for the start of his litany of injuries in 2014 to completely change the ways he manages his body.

“I could never be the old me again,” he added. “It's different now. The old me used to just go out and play and train. Now I need to warm up for 30 minuets before I start. Also, I would say I enjoy it more now. I enjoy it more than before.

“I need to make sure I do what I need to do to prepare for a game, especially training, that is the most important thing for me. To know all the calls and know my job in terms of putting it together with the game plan. I don’t look far ahead. One training session at a time, one day at a time.

“Ice-baths, massage, pilates, just to try and keep everything loose, especially after games and training sessions. Sometimes you don’t want to do it but to get to the training field you’ve got to get over the bridge.”

Tuilagi missed international rugby for the best part of five seasons, including the 2015 World Cup through injury and suspension, and England has certainly missed Tuilagi.

“He can spook players through his defensive pressure,” said defence coach John Mitchell. “If he gets you man and ball it’s not that comfortable for the attack. Also, when the defence does a good job on the inside, then having someone like Manu who can be fed pretty quickly and can deal with traffic or space is pretty handy.

“You have a quiet word with Manu. He is not a guy you overload with lectures or video. I find him very coachable. I don’t need to give him a lot of information. As long as I am giving him the right stuff, he’ll form an opinion.

“He has gained belief because he is prepared really well. He has had a long pre-season and he has been specifically prepared based on himself and his previous limitations through injury so I think that has given him confidence as it has allowed him to build and get to this point.

“The second thing is that he is older, he is also a father and happily married so that brings responsibilities and a different maturity as well. I think he is in a particularly good space because he is being managed well, he is being led well which then leads to his own leadership taking ownership of it.”