Manu Tuilagi storming back into form It had been a tough week for Leicester Tigers after they were demolished by Exeter Chiefs in Round One of the Gallagher Premiership, and then parted ways with boss Matt O’Connor. Interim coach Geordan Murphy demanded more from his players… and he got it at the weekend as the Tigers fans were treated to a high-scoring, action-packed 49-33 win over Newcastle Falcons. Defences were not on top, as they say. But it was a stirring bounce back for the famous club. And perhaps as pleasing as the win will be the re-emergence of one powerful man. The big man is back!!! @Manutuilagi ? pic.twitter.com/Ek2qvi7q3i — ugo monye (@ugomonye) September 8, 2018 After years of injury struggle, some may have been beginning to forget just how much punch the England centre can pack. But as he ran the in-line here and took a short ball, we caught a glimpse of the Tuilagi of old. And then he opened up. It was a moment that just clicked for Tigers. Kyle Eastmond balling for Manu Tuilagi's try. Takes it so flat with George Ford and Jonny May wrapping. Commits Toby Flood and Josh Matavesi has to delay his decision. Tuilagi carves a great angle but Eastmond's great at this. pic.twitter.com/PRlkpOKxG3 — Charlie Morgan (@CharlieFelix) September 9, 2018 After the game, fly-half George Ford said: “We’ve probably been paying (Manu) a bit of a disservice the way we’ve been playing him; telling him to run into brick walls all the time.” As you can see, when he is given the right pass in the right place, he detonates defences. Of course, one player showed us last week that good passes can lead to tries before defenders even know what’s going on. You remember Gloucester ten Danny Cipriani’s wonder pass last week, right? Well he was at it again, this time in the West Country derby with Bath. Ooooh @DannyCipriani87 ? WHAT. A. PASS. ? The man is playing with wing mirrors on ? pic.twitter.com/5njY1qBhyV — Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) September 8, 2018 The game ended in an enthralling 31-all draw. There are always tantalising moments when these famous rivals meet and there were a few nice sub-plots this time too – former Bath stalwart Matt Banahan scoring against his old club  stands out – but this pass was worth highlighting (again and again). Cipriani has started very well at Gloucester. Related: Watch Marcus Smith make two try-saving tackles Of course not all of the rugby at the weekend was a spectacle of hard but fair contest. This moment of brutality from Mathieu Bastareaud has drawn the ire of rugby fans all over. I see @BastaOfficiel lost his head for @RCTofficiel with a forearm smash to the head of @samsonchris4 who was lying prone on the floor. As @skysportsmiles said, it was bordering on assault. Shocking act that is indefensible and he should receive, as @WillGreenwood said, a big ban pic.twitter.com/vrQIVtQ0na — Andy Goode (@AndyGoode10) September 9, 2018 … Continue reading Social Media Round-up 2018-19 Season: Week Two