England v Tonga: Manu Tuilagi to play international rugby for first time since March 2020
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Owen Farrell and Manu Tuilagi were England's 10 and 12 during the 2019 World Cup quarter-final win against Australia
Autumn Nations Series: England v Tonga |
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Venue: Twickenham, London Date: Saturday, 6 November Kick-off: 15:15 GMT |
Coverage: Live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app. |
Centre Manu Tuilagi will make his first England appearance since March 2020 against Tonga on Saturday, with captain Owen Farrell starting at fly-half.
Harlequins number 10 Marcus Smith, who lacked training time because of a leg injury this week, is on the bench.
Head coach Eddie Jones said naming Smith among the replacements was "the most sensible thing".
England's team announcement was delayed because a member of their support staff had tested positive for Covid-19.
No-one else tested positive in a further round of lateral flow testing, with PCR test results due on Friday morning.
Jones had wanted to see Smith and Farrell play together at 10 and 12, but the England captain will instead partner Sale's Tuilagi, with Henry Slade at outside centre.
"When [Smith] couldn't do our two main training runs on Tuesday or Thursday - but we're confident he's going to be 100% fit on Saturday - then the most sensible thing was to get him to do a little bit of training on Friday and be ready to come off the bench," Jones said.
"That will be best for him and best for the team. We want to see a Marcus Smith that builds the game, that shows the responsibility he has to the team."
Marcus Smith made his England debut against the United States in July
Mitchell set for England debut
Elsewhere in England's injury-hit backline, Northampton scrum-half Alex Mitchell is set to make his debut from the bench, with Sale's Raffi Quirke and Bristol's Harry Randall both unable to play.
Freddie Steward wins his third cap at full-back, while Adam Radwan makes his second appearance on the right wing.
Props Ellis Genge and Kyle Sinckler start in the front row alongside hooker Jamie George. Jones said the presence of Tonga props Siegfried Fisi'ihoi and Ben Tameifuna meant England "are going to have to go in the front door before the back door".
Maro Itoje and Jonny Hill are in the second row, while Tom Curry starts at number eight, Courtney Lawes and Sam Underhill are the flankers and Alex Dombrandt is among the replacements.
Curry, Lawes and Genge have all been named vice-captains for the side's Autumn Nation Series opener at Twickenham.
"We respect Tonga greatly," Jones said of Saturday's opponents, with games against Australia and world champions South Africa to follow.
"We're especially looking forward to getting back out in front of a full crowd at Twickenham and playing some entertaining, exciting rugby for all of the supporters - we can't wait to have them back."
For the visitors, Lopeti Timani, who won 12 caps for Australia, makes his Tonga debut at blind-side flanker after qualifying because he had represented the country in sevens.
Tuilagi returns in familiar midfield
Jones had shaken up his squad for the autumn internationals with the 2023 World Cup in mind after England's disappointing fifth place in the 2021 Six Nations.
But Smith's lack of training due to injury means a familiar midfield of Farrell, Tuilagi and Slade will take to the field against Tonga.
England have enjoyed plenty of success when Tuilagi has been fit, including a run to the 2019 World Cup final, but the 30-year-old has suffered from repeated injuries throughout his career.
Tuilagi was called into the England camp over the summer, but had to withdraw two days later because of a hamstring issue.
He returned in May after an eight month lay-off because of a torn Achilles but has previously spent long periods on the sidelines because of a torn pectoral muscle, repeated groin injuries and knee ligament damage.
Jones described Tuilagi as "a real warrior", adding: "People love playing with him.
"He's an infectious personality. He's a tough, hard player. He's always in the team room either playing chess with Jonny May - they're the two world champions and you'll have a crowd around them - or he's out the golf course taking on Genge and Will Stuart in a long driving competition.
"He's one of those really good people to have in the team apart from being an exceptional gainline player."
England: Steward; Radwan, Slade, Tuilagi, May; Farrell (capt), Youngs; Genge, George, Sinckler, Itoje, Hill, Lawes, Underhill, Curry.
Replacements: Blamire, Marler, Stuart, Ewels, Dombrandt, Mitchell, Smith, Furbank.
Tonga: Veainu; W Fifita, Hingano, Taumoepeau, Kata; Morath, Takulua (capt); Fisi'ihoi, Ngauamo, Tameifuna, H Fifita, Halaifonua, Timani, Kafatolu, Vailanu.
Replacements: Maile, Uhila, Fia, Funaki, Havili, Fukofuka, Faiva, Fine.
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