It is six years since New Zealand lost in Europe. It was not so much a sickness bug that laid them low at Twickenham then but the England centre Manu Tuilagi who went on a one-man rampage in an emphatic 38-21 victory.
The Leicester centre was then seen as a mainstay of the England side through to the 2015 World Cup and beyond but injuries have restricted him to six Test starts since that afternoon and he has featured only briefly under Eddie Jones, sitting twice on the bench in 2016. He is now fit and in contention for a place against South Africa on Saturday.
“Manu is a unique player and it is great to have him back in the squad,” says the England full-back Mike Brown, who played on the wing in the 2012 victory. “He has had a tough time with injuries and it is good to see him playing well for his club again. We need his type if we are to go on and win the World Cup.
“He is a powerful man with an ability to get over the gain line, cause havoc for defences and off-load. If defences focus on him there will be spaces elsewhere, but if they don’t look after him, he can easily beat two men with his strength. He is special and a top bloke to have around the camp.”
The return of Tuilagi, who is training with England in Portugal, has not just added to Jones’s options in the midfield but allowed him to consider a tactical change of direction by moving Owen Farrell to fly-half and perming two from Tuilagi, Ben Te’o and Henry Slade in the midfield.
Te’o also returned from injury to travel to Portugal, coming on for the final 29 minutes for Worcester against Ospreys last weekend in his first appearance of the season following a thigh injury that required surgery.
“It took me time to get back because I had a few hiccups in my rehab and tweaked a calf muscle,” says Te’o, a tourist with the Lions in New Zealand last year. “I feel good now and enjoying being in the system again. I will be ready for the weekend. I back myself that I can get out there and play but that is up to Eddie: he will watch me in training and make the call.”
Last week was the first time Te’o trained with Tuilagi. “We have never been in camp at the same time,” Te’o says. “I have never even played against him. I am not sure whether the coaches are looking at playing us together: there are so many good centres to consider and I would be happy to pair with any of them.
“I just hope Manu stays injury‑free and enjoys some good luck. Everyone has been wanting to see him back in an England shirt, and I am one of them. We all know what he has done in the past, but I am sure he is trying to reinvent himself and get back out there.”
Tuilagi toured with the Lions in 2013 but was injured last year when Te’o was called up and was involved in all three Tests, starting the first and on the bench for the other two. He does not believe that the changes to future tours, cut by two matches to eight but with no full training week for the entire squad before flying out, will lead to the demise of one of the game’s most prized assets.
“We had limited preparation time last year but it is part of the experience,” Te’o says. “If you have to cram the games in, that is the way it is. No matter what, everyone will want to be on the next tour. The Lions are part of rugby and should stay: the amount of support from the fans who travelled to New Zealand was an amazing experience.
“A Lions tour comes every four years and playing for your country is the priority. It is great to be a part of, but England games like Ireland and New Zealand are above it, in my opinion. Everyone is proud to play for the Lions, but look how revved up Ireland get to play England.”
