ENGLAND CENTRE MANU Tuilagi reportedly had his ear partially torn off in his first collision of Saturday’s 23-13 Six Nations win over France.
The centre, whose try proved a turning point in England’s third win of the competition, required 19 stitches on the wound – two of which were internal.
Louis Picamoles’ elbow caught the Leicester Tiger, but after only having a cameo to play in this year’s tournament so far, he was content with the temporary measure of wrapping the problem.
“It was the first collision of the match,” Tuilagi told ESPN Scrum. “I sparked out for a couple of seconds. I’m not sure if I was knocked out but I was definitely dazed. It is one of the biggest collisions I have ever had.
“I just told the doctor to wrap it up. The doctor was saying I needed stitches but I said, ‘No, just tape it up’. I wanted to stay out there and help the team and do anything to contribute to the win.
“They couldn’t put temporary stitches in it at half-time because there was too much damage. It would take too long to stitch it so I carried on.
“It took 40 minutes to do the stitches after the game. I have got 17 on the outside of the ear and two internal stitches.”
England are now four points away from a Grand Slam which seemed fanciful in the wake of their disastrous World Cup, in which Tuilagi was one of many examples of ill discipline when he leapt from a ferry as it was docking in Auckland harbour.
