Vickery urges England to turn on the power by recalling Tuilagi
FORMER England captain Phil Vickery believes head coach Stuart Lancaster must be bold enough to tinker with a winning team and unleash Manu Tuilagi against Wales in Saturday’s pivotal Six Nations clash.
Despite Lancaster’s tenure having commenced with victories away from home against Scotland and Italy, both performances were depressingly reminiscent, despite the significant change in personnel, of those dour, unimaginative displays England turned in at last October’s World Cup.
Tuilagi, the powerfully built Leicester centre, was one of the few members of England’s touring party to return home with their on-field reputations enhanced – he was fined twice for wearing a branded gumshield and for leaping from a ferry – but injury has restricted him to just five matches for his club this season.
The Samoan-born 20-year-old featured in last Sunday’s win over Premiership champions Saracens and Vickery believes that, despite his lack of match fitness, England cannot afford to without his ball carrying ability against a Welsh side who also boast a flawless start to the tournament.
“Whether Stuart and the rest of the coaches opt to stick or twist is obviously a very difficult decision to make. You can’t take away from the guys what they’ve done so far but the one thing England will need on Saturday is penetration,” he told City PM
“This Welsh side are defensively very aggressive and Stuart will need to select a side that can burst its way around the field. Personally I think that has to mean a recall for Tuilagi even though he’s lacking sharpness.
“He would create the opportunities to get down the middle of the field and to give targets for that England pack to come round the corner and build momentum.”
Despite the turgid nature of their victories over Scotland and Italy, Vickery has been impressed by the resolve England have shown under Lancaster, who names his team to face Wales today, thus far.
The former Test prop, however, recognises the Red Rose face an enormous task to halt a Wales side this weekend whose resurrection under Warren Gatland should provide England with the belief that they can escape the doldrums by the time the 2015 World Cup comes around.
He said: “Wales have got a great ethos and I was inspired by what they did in the World Cup. They’ve got a great man in charge and a fantastic back-up team. They really are the blueprint that England need to follow. They’ve been through troubled times themselves and if anything from England’s point of view they should see how quickly it’s possible to get back on track and overcome those difficulties. They all proud to be representing their country.”
Phil Vickery is representing Team England in the upcoming DHL First Nation Home Challenge in aid of this year’s Sport Relief. For more information, and for behind-the-scenes access to the teams visit www.firstnationhome.com