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A slimmed-down Manu Tuilagi is ready to prove he can be fit for purpose and defy what he calls ‘old age’ to help ignite Sale’s Premiership title challenge and earn another England comeback.
The 30-year-old centre has shed nearly a stone after agreeing a weight-loss pact with fellow Sharks centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg — the South African who suggested at the end of last season that neither of them were in good enough shape. Sale had just lost their Premiership semi-final at Exeter and the observation from his team-mate resonated with Tuilagi.
Since that moment of truth, he and his fellow midfield ‘bruise brother’ have focused on diet and fitness, with significant results. Last Saturday, Tuilagi lasted the full 80 minutes — a rare feat — as Sale snatched a 20-19 home win over Bath to launch their league campaign.
Sale and England centre Manu Tuilagi has focused on diet and fitness during the summer
On Sunday, he will start against London Irish in Brentford, hoping to deliver another powerful, resilient performance before joining up with the England squad for a short training camp.
The drop in weight has paid off. ‘I was one or two kilos too heavy,’ said Tuilagi. ‘Running around for 80 minutes, those two kilos can weigh you down quite a bit so we thought, “Lose a bit of weight to be a bit more mobile, a bit more agile, and use less energy. Have a bit more precision in the way you can play the game”.’
Asked if he had become
