Youngs backs Tuilagi to take game to New Zealand

Ben Youngs believes the England squad will be boosted for Saturday’s game against New Zealand at Twickenham by seeing Manu Tuilagi, the man who helped put the All Blacks to the sword in 2012, back in the ranks.

Youngs’s Leicester Tigers teammate has been restored to the 25-man match-day squad after being forced to withdraw last Friday with a minor groin strain 24 hours before kick-off against South Africa. That would have been the first start at Twickenham for the injury plagued centre in five years.

Tuilagi is desperate to make up for lost time and there is little doubt his ball-carrying will be an asset against New Zealand in much the manner it was when the force of his play set the All Blacks on their heels in a 38-21 victory for England.

There have been glimpses of such form during his return to front-line action in the Premiership and the European Champions Cup.

Tuilagi came through a good workout yesterday and has made the cut for players retained for the Quilter international on Saturday, England’s first game against the All Blacks in four years.

Youngs, the scrum-half, has seen at close quarters the effect Tuilagi has on a squad. “We know what a world-class operator Manu is,” said Youngs. “Seeing him in your team settles the boys down. It was great to see him running round today. He is looking good.

“One thing about the All Blacks is that you are going to have to score tries. I don’t like talk of trying to ‘contain’ New Zealand, because it implies we will go out there and see what they have got. It is about taking the game to them.”

There are two changes to the squad, both enforced by injury. Bath’s Sam Underhill steps in for Sale Sharks flanker Tom Curry, who has been ruled out of the November series with the ankle injury that forced him off just after half-time last weekend. Curry remains in camp and will see a specialist later in the week.

Courtney Lawes has recovered from the back problem that caused him to return briefly from the training camp in Portugal and takes the place of Bath’s Elliott Stooke.

England have also retained three other players for training purposes: Harlequins duo, centre Joe Marchant and wing Nathan Earle, and Saracens back Alex Lozowski, who is serving a four-week ban.

Chris Ashton will be able to pass on some inside knowledge of the All Blacks, having played with several of them at Toulon, although former New Zealand centre Malakai Fekitoa will not be able to provide the same service in warning of Ashton’s try-scoring potency.

“Malakai didn’t even know what the Premiership was, so I don’t think they pay as much attention to us [as we do to them],” said Ashton.