England Saxon Team to face Italy announced 2011
By RFU Press Office
January 27 2011
England Saxons will hand debuts to five new players when they face Italy A at Worcester on Saturday.
| Five newcomers in England Saxons side to face Italy A |
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England Saxons will hand debuts to five new players when they face Italy A at Worcester on Saturday. Leicester Tigers centres Manu Tuilagi, 19, and Billy Twelvetrees, 22, Harlequins prop Joe Marler, 20, Sale Sharks flanker James Gaskell, 20, and Northampton Saints lock Christian Day, 27, all make their first starts at this level. A sixth newcomer, Harlequins lock George Robson, is on the bench. Head coach Stuart Lancaster has also selected two British & Irish Lions in hooker Lee Mears (Bath Rugby) and wing Ugo Monye (Harlequins) in a team captained by Harlequins flanker Chris Robshaw, one of seven in the starting line-up who have been capped at senior level.
Harlequins flanker Chris Robshaw - Photo by Empics The Saxons are out to sustain the momentum built up by five victories in 2010 when they face the Azzurri at Sixways on Saturday (3.15pm) before travelling to take on Ireland A in Belfast on Friday, February 4 (7.30pm). Lancaster is delighted with the blend at his disposal and underlined the opportunities available to push for places in this summer’s extended World Cup training squad. “It’s an exciting group and we’ve got a bit of everything in the squad,” said Lancaster. “There are young players coming through, those getting their opportunities after showing great form in the Aviva Premiership and some who are older and more experienced who are keen to get back in the senior squad all of whom have added great value to the group. “It’s been a short week to prepare to play Italy A but everyone’s bought into what we want to do and Worcester’s going to be a great place to play – a nice wide pitch and a passionate crowd – so it should be a great occasion. “These players have got everything to play for in a World Cup year and they know it. It’s a big chance for all of them and it’s important for them to play for each other. If they do that, the collective performance will enable them to benefit from it as individuals.”
England Saxons
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Thursday January 27, 2011
Issued by Simon Mills
England Saxons centre Manu Tuilagi in action for Leicester Tigers
Teenage Leicester Tigers centre Manu Tuilagi is doing his best to keep his feet on the ground as he prepares to make his first start for England Saxons.
The Samoan-born 19-year-old was in danger of being sent back to the Pacific island last summer, winning an appeal against deportation and being granted indefinite leave to remain in the country.
Since then his progress has been rapid, stepping up out of the Tigers academy to feature for the first team and start their last five games in the Heineken Cup, Aviva Premiership and LV=Cup, following in the footsteps of five brothers to have featured for Leicester.
A former England Under 18 international, he was named in the national Under 20 squad in July, then promoted to the Saxons group as an injury replacement for Mathew Tait and will line-up alongside established star turns like Ugo Monye and James Simpson-Daniel as well as Tigers teammate Billy Twelvetrees against Italy A at Sixways on Saturday (3.15pm).
On the way, he’s even been mentioned as a contender for a place in this year’s World Cup squad after displaying a frightening combination of power, pace and subtle handling on his arrival in the Tigers team.
“Back in the summer I was just looking to get a start in the Leicester first team and that’s quite hard because you’ve got guys like Dan Hipkiss, my brother [Alesana] on the wing, Anthony Allen at 12, and so on all around you.
“But because of some injuries I’ve got an opportunity to come on, then get some starts and I’ve started the last five games now. It’s a big step up from the Leicester academy and the standard is very high in the Aviva Premiership and in the European Cup. We’ve played the likes of the Scarlets and Exeter away from home recently and they’re all tough games.
“Being called up to the England Saxons was a surprise too. It was a real bonus to get a call from [head coach] Stuart Lancaster in the first place and now I’m starting so I’m just trying to keep my cool. For me it’s a massive step from the academy to the first team and then from Leicester to the Saxons.”
Tuilagi’s brothers have all played internationally for Samoa but he qualifies for England by residency after coming to the country six years ago and working his way through the ranks at Welford Road. Once last summer’s visa problems were resolved his path was clear.
“I was born in Samoa and came over at the age of 13, so all my rugby pretty much has been learned in England and Leicester have been great for me every step of the way,” he said. “You don’t get anything free and easy there.
“It [the visa appeal] went on for a long time but I didn’t let it affect my rugby. I thought, well, if I’m gone, I’m gone. I just tried to keep playing and not thinking about it. It all worked out well in the end, thank God.
“At the moment I’m just focused on playing well at club level and for the Saxons and the next game on Saturday, but the World Cup? I don’t know.
“Everyone who plays rugby wants to play in a World Cup and every English player wants to play for England. Hopefully the dream will continue. Playing at Twickenham for England is in the back of my mind and I’d love to be able to do it.”