Manu Tuilagi will join up with England’s RBS 6 Nations squad later today after he came through 80 minutes unscathed for Leicester Tigers on Sunday.
Tuilagi has not featured for the Red Rose since their tour of New Zealand in the summer of 2014, with a string of injuries keeping him out of action.
The powerful centre made a long-awaited return to club action in January and has now started each of Leicester’s last two league games.
England head coach Eddie Jones is yet to get his hands on Tuilagi but already has plans to use him at inside centre, despite the 24-year-old being used at club level primarily as a No.13.
“I think 12 is his best position,” said Jones last week. “He’s not a 13. That’s what I know he’s not. He’s definitely a 12. He can carry the ball across the gain line.”
And while Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill has always preferred Tuilagi as an outside centre, he revealed after Sunday’s victory over London Irish that he can appreciate Jones’ point of view.
“I think they will pick Manu at 12 as and when,” he said. “They have got really good options at 13 with Jonathan Joseph and Elliot Daly.
“A really good fit would be Manu at 12 making holes. People will defend Manu and there will space for Joseph or Daly on the outside.”
However, it remains to be seen whether Tuilagi will be considered for selection against Wales at Twickenham on March 12, as England continue their pursuit of a Grand Slam.
Click here for the complete 2016 RBS 6 Nations fixture list with TV coverage
