England and Wales meet at Twickenham on Saturday in a Guinness Six Nations clash that is critical to both countries’ title aspirations.
The game will see powerhouse centre Manu Tuilagi return to England’s starting line-up after injury, providing a major boost for Eddie Jones’ team.
Here, the PA news agency looks at Tuilagi’s midfield battle in opposition to Wales’ Nick Tompkins.
Manu Tuilagi – Sale Sharks
Position: Centre
Age: 30
Caps: 46
Debut: versus Wales, 2011
Height: 6′ 0″
Weight: 17st 4lbs
Points: 95 (19 tries)
Tuilagi has had an injury-hit career, but there are few more destructive midfield forces than the Sale centre when he is fit and firing. Tuilagi made his England debut against Wales in 2011, and his last Six Nations appearance came when Wales visited Twickenham in 2020, a game that saw him score a try before he was later sent off by referee Ben O’Keeffe. Tuilagi has been pivotal to some of England’s finest wins in the last 10 years – notably a stunning 2019 World Cup semi-final victory over New Zealand – and now fully fit again following hamstring trouble, head coach Jones will unleash him in game three of the Six Nations campaign. Wales are on red alert.
Nick Tompkins – Saracens
Position: Centre
Age: 27
Caps: 18
Debut: versus Italy, 2020
Height: 5′ 11″
Weight: 13st 5lbs
Points: 10 (two tries)
Tompkins’ Wales debut against Italy in 2020 came as bolt out of the blue, with few people seemingly aware that the Sidcup-born Saracens centre had a grandmother from Wrexham. Wales head coach Wayne Pivac had done his homework, though, and Tompkins has become a valued and consistent Test match performer, featuring in 17 of Wales’ 23 games since entering the international arena. His club career has realised European Cup and Premiership title successes, and he has quickly become an integral part of Pivac’s plans building towards the 2023 World Cup in France. Faces a huge task trying to shackle Tuilagi, but it is a challenge he will relish.
