Magic Manu gives Eddie timely nudge

EDDIE JONES has been out and about watching as many Premiership games as possible and he will be pleased at what he has seen in England’s two perennial problem positions — outside centre and openside flanker. First and foremost we have Manu Tuilagi reminding everybody that he is still in the frame after a torrid, injury-stricken three or four years that took him out of the equation. He scored a fine try against Newcastle on Saturday when he contributed really well to a much improved Leicester Tigers performance after that miserable opening-day display at Exeter. I’ve often pondered how England could best use a fully fit Manu (below) because if he could get back to peak physical condition he would be in my team somewhere. That supreme fitness will only come when he strings together 12 to 15 games so hopefully the rugby gods can look kindly on him for once. I used to think he could be an incredible No 12. If he was younger I would work night and day on his passing and kicking skills because he could pose a massive threat there and would be a rock-solid presence which an entire back division could work off. Alas that boat has sailed but I still believe when fully fit he could make a huge contribution at No 13, with clever playmakers at 10 and 12 teeing him up to make a huge dent or using him as a foil. Henry Slade has also started the season like a train in the No 13 jersey and notched up another two tries for Exeter at Wasps on Saturday. What I had never quite clocked about Slade before is that he has serious wheels — Elliot Daly and Christian Wade couldn’t get anywhere near him when he sprinted in for his interception try. He is a must-pick in terms of the England squad. He still has the skillset of a Test No 12 but he will only get an England start there if Eddie contemplates moving Owen Farrell back to No 10. Meanwhile at No 7 we have seen the re-emergence of Matt Kvesic. OK, it’s only two games in but he has been excellent for Exeter Chiefs and the fact that Rob Baxter is starting him is telling. Getting into that Chiefs side is mighty difficult — Kvesic scarcely featured last season — but he has come back with a bang. Kvesic is demonstrating a better all-round skillset. Yes, you would always want his jackal ability over the ball but at elite Test level your No 7 also needs to be comfortable ball in hand and possess the running power to make some hard yards. Kvesic is offering more on that score now and if he continues in similar vein he should definitely be back in the England mix this autumn.