Stuart Lancaster’s hand is forced as wrecking ball lives up to name

Owen Slot argues that Manu Tuilagi left the England head coach with no option but to take drastic measure

Manu Tuilagi has forced Stuart Lancaster, the head coach, to hurt England’s
World Cup chances to stand by their principles.



Tuilagi has long been England’s favourite wrecking ball and was long viewed as
the strike weapon that England would take to the World Cup.

Now that he has
been convicted of three charges of assault and one of criminal damage, the
knock-on effect is his exclusion from the England World Cup squad, and that
looks very much like a significant dent to their hop…