Give Manu new chance – O’Driscoll urges Jones
But the Irish legend has urged his former Lions teammate to ensure his latest “stupid” decision is his last.
The fit-again Tuilagi was kicked out of the England training camp in South West London last Monday only two days after making his return to the squad after it emerged that he and Sale wing Denny Solomona went out drinking overnight.
England head coach Eddie Jones sent the pair home for “breaching team culture issues” leaving their Test career in doubt.
But Irish legend O’Driscoll who got to know Tuilagi during the 2013 Lions tour in Australia thinks the 26-year-old has time to set the record straight and fulfil his incredible potential.
“I’m a big fan of Manu as a person and a player,” he exclusively told The Rugby Paper. “I’ve spent a lot of time with him in 2013 and he’s a real talent. I don’t have any bad words to say about him
“He’s just been unlucky with injuries and silly decisions and what he did last weekend was very stupid just after getting himself back in the England set up. He shot himself in the foot.
“He needs to earn the respect and the right to play for England again and unfortunately for him that road just got a little bit longer.
“I’d have him at No.12 and a partnership with Elliot Daly outside him in the England midfield and Owen Farell at fly-half could be special for England moving forward.
“If he’s fit and playing well I think Manu can be a world-beater so don’t get rid of him for something that was really foolish. He only had a few drinks he didn’t kill anyone.
“That said he’s had too many second chances. He’s still young but he needs to get on with it now.”
It is not the first time Tuilagi has hit the headlines for the wrong reasons. He jumped off a ferry in Auckland harbour during the 2011 World Cup and was convicted of assaulting a female police officer in Leicester in 2015 which ruled him out of the World Cup in England.
O’Driscoll was left wanting for more on July 8 after the 15-15 draw between the British and Irish Lions and New Zealand meant the series ended in a tie.
But he thinks it showed New Zealand can be beaten two years before the next World Cup in Japan – with England leading the way.
O’Driscoll said: “The third Test was such an anti-climax and I was the same as everyone else at the end thinking ‘Is that it?’.
“It was weird to watch both captains lifting the trophy with neither being happy or devastated.
“But given the expectations on New Zealand, it has to be a better outcome for the Lions and that gives hopes to the rest of the world.
“The 2019 World Cup is not already won for the All Blacks. Other sides have the capability to rattle them. It’ll take a lot to beat them but that can happen.
“England are in the shake up for it and they have to be favourites to beat them but Ireland showed they can do it, too.
“Ireland’s first win in Chicago was a big monkey off their back and knowing you can beat them mean they won’t be as frightened to face them anymore.”
Giving his opinion on current affairs in rugby has become a new career for O’Driscoll who joined the BT Sport pundit team after retiring in 2013.
He added: “I didn’t really know what I was doing when I first started being a pundit.
“But you learn your voice, what you’re happy to say and, most importantly, the ways of phrasing your opinions.
“Being on the sidelines as a pundit is easier that co-commenting because you have time to prepare your answers. When you commentate it’s live and it’s not as easy as it looks.
“I put a few noses out of joint at first but I’ve learnt to deal with people being upset by what I said. I’ve also learnt more subtle ways to express myself the more experience I’ve had.”
NICK VERDIER
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