Manu Tuilagi is back in the England fold ahead of the Six Nations showdown with Wales
(Picture: Getty Images)England fly-half Marcus Smith says it will be “special” to play alongside Manu Tuilagi again and has hailed the centre as a “ball of energy”.
Tuilagi missed the first two games of England’s Six Nations campaign, but he is in contention to return against Wales next week.
The 30-year-old has recovered from a hamstring injury and he is part of the England squad training at a five-day camp in London this week.
Smith, who has established himself as England’s starting 10, is relishing the return of Tuilagi and cannot wait to play alongside him.
“He is a brilliant player. He is someone, even when I was very young, I used to watch him play,” said Smith.
“I think I even watched his first try at Twickenham, which was quite special, with the dummy-switch with Jonny Wilkinson.
“To be able to play with him is special. I played with him, I think, one or two games in the autumn.
“It is brilliant to have him back in camp, he’s a ball of energy. All the boys love him and hopefully we can play together one day again.
“Obviously he is a different player and all our centres are very different in the way they play. Chief [Tuilagi] is a brilliant ball-carrier, but I think his skill set is undervalued as well.
“He can pass off both hands very well, he can go to the line, dummy, he can do the whole lot.
“As well as other centres, they’re all massive threats at the line and good carriers in their own rights.”
