Kyran Bracken says there is no need to rush Manu Tuilagi back
Thursday 14 January 2016 12:48, UK
Kyran Bracken has called for patience over Manu Tuilagi and has backed Joe Launchbury to captain England in the Six Nations.
Tuilagi has been included in Eddie Jones' first England squad with Ollie Devoto of Bath present as an injury replacement until the Leicester centre can prove his fitness after 15 months sidelined with a groin problem.
Tuilagi made his long awaited comeback for in Leicester's 30-27 win against Northampton with a 28-minute appearance off the bench.
Despite Tigers' boss Richard Cockerill saying that it would be "unrealistic" for Tuilagi to be part of England's early games in the Six Nations Championship this season, Jones has not given up hope of him returning sooner.
But former England scrum-half Kyran Bracken has also called for patience over Tuilagi and says there are some exciting emerging centres available for England.
"England only have a few world class players and Tuilagi is one of them," said Bracken on Sky Sports News HD.
"When he is fit and plays then he gets over the advantage line so well - which is important for England. But because of the injuries he has had, the worse thing England can do now is rush him back - we don't want him to get another niggle and not be fit; not just for England but for Leicester as well who have invested a lot of time in him.
"People talking about Manu being back is great and very exciting - the centre partnership is where it has all gone wrong in the last few years. Who will be fit and who they will play is going to be very interesting and I think that Elliot Daly from Wasps is a player who should come through there. It is a very exciting and young squad he has picked."
Jones has picked seven uncapped players in his squad and Bracken is hoping that Maro Itoje gets his chance to show what he can do.
He is such an athlete and a talent - he is young but he plays with such maturity. I am really hoping that England start with him."
Jones has refused to be drawn on who the England skipper will be saying that he will wait until he has his first XV picked before deciding. In the press Northampton hooker Dylan Hartley has come out as the frontrunner but Bracken is not sure it would be the right choice.
"It was a bit of a surprise when we heard about Hartley and the captaincy. Again it is about Eddie Jones being unpredictable. Hartley missed the World Cup because of his disciplinary record - he has had what 50-60 odd weeks of bans? There is a question of trust. But Eddie Jones was a hooker so he likes the hooker who is amongst it all to be captain.
"I am not sure Hartley will be captain. For me it would be Joe Launchbury. He is a bit of a silent assassin at Wasps. Jones has not announced his captain and says he wants his captain to be his best player. Joe Launchbury for me, being a senior player now, would be that sort of player."
