I spent the afternoon with Manu Tuilagi the other day, the new star of English rugby who, by common consent, was the best England player at the Rugby World Cup.
Of course it does not mean too much to young Manu because he is already back home and not competing in Sunday's Rugby World Cup final. His time will come, though, for sure, and when England play Scotland at the start of the 2012 Six Nations tournament, his will be one of the first names on the teamsheet.
Unfortunately some of Manu's on-field success will be overshadowed by what happened to him off the field, especially his silly decision to jump off a ferry and take a swim in Auckland Harbour 24 hours after losing to France in the quarter-final. It resulted in a pre-charge warning from the police, photographs of him in his underwear on the quayside, a £3,000 fine and a rollicking from England boss Martin Johnson, and further tellings off from his Samoan family.
If it was an isolated incident then it might have been translated as high jinks. But following on from all the other off-field incidents, and the day after losing so badly to France, Manu's timing was poor. But - and here's the important point - the 20-year-old has apologised profusely and genuinely, as you will see in the major interview which appears in the articles section of Sportsvibe.
He now realises that playing for England places you in the spotlight and that even though he is still barely out of his teens, he is already a mentor and role model. He has shown contrition and that should be the end of it. Everyone makes mistakes. It's how you learn from them that counts. I believe Manu Tuilagi could be the biggest star in English rugby for the next ten years if he stays fit.
I say we forgive and forget and get behind the young man now. He has been big enough and brave enough to hold his hand up and say sorry. That is good enough for me.
