THIS IS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME CHANCE FOR ENGLAND

Tuilagi calls for a cool, clinical approach to beat the All Blacks ...just like they did back in 2012

MANU TUILAGI has billed Saturday’s World Cup semi-final as a “oncein-a-lifetime” opportunity for him and his team-mates. England’s wrecking ball centre was still at school when New Zealand last lost a match in the tournament – against France in Cardiff in 2007.

A dozen years later he is one of 14 players in the England squad to have experienced victory over New Zealand – nine with the Lions and a further five with England at Twickenham in 2012.

But none are more revered, or feared, by the world champions than Tuilagi, given the way he cut them to shreds wearing the Red Rose. New Zealand came into the game unbeaten in 20 games and having not lost an autumn Test for a decade. England ransacked that reputation, hammering them 38-21, with Tuilagi scoring one try and having a hand in the other two.

“It was a good day and a good win,” Leicester’s midfield ace agreed ahead of team selection today, for which wing Jonny May, two-try hero against Australia, is a doubt due to a hamstring strain.

“The secret then was each player, one to 23, just doing their job, not doing anything amazing. That is exactly what we need this weekend: focus on your own job and do it the best you can. Then the performance will take care of itself.”

Tuilagi admits he had All Black idols growing up in Samoa, particularly the incomparable Jonah Lomu.

“I was a massive fan of Jonah and the way he played,” he said. “He is a legend, no one plays like him. You try but you don’t succeed.

“Saturday is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, probably the biggest game of our lives. We know how important it is but we don’t want to let that overwhelm us.

“We have got a game plan and we have got to be clear on it. Be emotionally excited, but have the control on the pitch.

“We’re going against the best in the world. They’re very physical and we’ve got to match that and try to stop them. If they get on top of you it becomes very hard. We’ve got a massive job to do. Everyone’s got to bring their game and be physically and mentally right.”