Much has been made of Stuart Lancaster’s daring decision to shift Manu Tuilagi, England’s wrecking ball in the centre, to the wing. The ultimate question is whether or not it was the right decision for England Rugby. Whilst it ensures that some of England’s key men (Luther Burrell, Billy Twelvetrees and Manu Tuilagi) are all on the pitch, it has caused some to question whether Tuilagi, who has not played on the wing since age-group rugby, is capable enough to seamlessly complete the position shift, especially between tests against New Zealand. Of course, he would have trained in this position prior to the decision being announced – he may have been training on the wing for a long time, but for many it is still a big ask.
One of the primary concerns is his ability to take the high ball under pressure. Aaron Cruden, the New Zealand Fly-Half, said earlier this week that it would not be long before him and Scrum-Half Aaron Smith began sending the high kicks Manu’s way come Saturday’s match. Make no mistake – New Zealand will do everything in their power to expose Tuilagi’s potential vulnerabilities. However, Stuart Lancaster has assured us that this will not be the case. The potential gains, in his opinion, far outweigh the potential losses.
His point is definitely clear: if Manu is put into more one-on-one situations, he can create tries and score them in equal measure. How many times have we seen him break the first tackle when taking on a defensive line? In fact, how many times has he then gone on to break the second or third tackle? On the wing, he is unlikely to find himself surrounded by tacklers as he often does in the centre, and this is definitely an exciting prospect. He could wreak havoc for the full eighty minutes against New Zealand if he shows the same attacking prowess as he has so often shown in the past.
His defensive work in the centre has never been questioned, so why should it be a concern on the wing? The main reason is because of the defensive system that Stuart Lancaster has chosen to play with his wingers. He asks the wingers to sit forward and leave the high balls for the Full-Back Mike Brown, who is ever-reliable, or for the Number 8 or Fly-Half. However, they must also be aware of covering the potential gaps left behind them. A well-weighted grubber kick behind Tuilagi could undo the English defence should he fail to correctly position himself. As I said before, however, he has most likely been training in this position for a while, so he should be accustomed to the potential threats in defence.
So, should England fans be jubilant, or worried? For most, I would imagine, it may be a bit of both. This is one of the most exciting and enticing England back lines for a long time, and if Stuart Lancaster’s attacking master-plan clicks into place on Saturday, we could see fireworks in Dunedin. Whatever you think of the decision, Lancaster must be applauded for his boldness, and in a week’s time we may just be looking back on it as a defining moment in the series for England. I will be watching closely on Saturday and, of course, hoping for an England win!
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