TUILAGI GIVES US THE FEAR FACTOR
Manu back to wreak havoc for England and Smith can’t wait
MARCUS SMITH believes Manu Tuilagi brings a fear factor to the England team – and he can vouch for it from personal experience.
Tuilagi has not played for his country in almost a year but is fit and firing ahead of Sunday’s Twickenham Test with Argentina.
Team captain Courtney Lawes misses the game as he is still experiencing symptoms from a head injury suffered in September.
Owen Farrell (concussion) and Jonny
May (elbow) have rejoined the squad but face a race against time to take on the Pumas.
No concerns at this stage for 31-year-old Tuilagi, whose injury-hit career has allowed him only six caps since the last World Cup.
Fly-half Smith, who has never lost in an England shirt when playing alongside the Sale centre, is chomping at the bit to team up again.
The Harlequins playmaker said: “He adds a fear factor to our team. I know when I play against him I get that on a Friday night! He’s an absolute beast, a freak ball-in-hand.
“He’s got brilliant hands at the line and he bangs pretty hard in defence.
“It’s lovely to look outside and know he’s there because he’s always got my back, which is pretty special.”
Smith, in his second year as an England regular, has struck up a strong relationship with the wrecking-ball midfielder.
The 23-yearold said: “Manu has always looked after me ever since I was young. He makes me feel very comfortable, like I can be myself – and I love that about him.”
The make-up of the midfield this weekend depends on the availability of inside-centre Farrell, who could also reclaim the captaincy. Return-to-play protocols dictate that a player who has been concussed must stand down for a minimum of 12 days, which takes the Saracens star up to Friday. Farrell has remained as fully involved as he has been permitted to, reviewing footage of England in training and providing valuable feedback to his team-mates and coaches.
Smith said: “He’s a brilliant leader whenever he’s in camp.
“He drives standards both on and off the field, is full of ideas and is not afraid to speak up.
“So, he’s a massive loss and we have had to be adaptable, find a way to all step up in our leadership, speak a bit more and drive standards that way.
“But we’re communicating with him – asking him questions and challenging him on his ideas as well – as we feel he can spot things and add things that we may have missed from being in the thick of it.”
Gloucester wing May looked set to miss the autumn Tests after appearing to dislocate his elbow a week ago.
But imaging and scans confirmed the injury to be less serious and he has been passed fit to return to full training. ENGLAND SQUAD – Forwards: Coles, CowanDickie, Curry, Genge, Heyes, Hill, Itoje, McGuigan, Pearson, Rapava-Ruskin, Ribbans, Robinson, Rodd, Simmonds, Sinckler, Singleton, Tizard, B Vunipola, M Vunipola, Willis. Backs: Cokanasiga, Farrell, Furbank, Joseph, Malins, May, Murley, Nowell, Porter, Quirke, Slade, Smith, Steward, Tuilagi, Van Poortvliet, Youngs.
He’s always got my back and that is special