Marcus Smith insists Manu Tuilagi brings a fear factor to England’s rugby team - and says he can vouch for it from personal experience.
Tuilagi has not played for England in almost a year but is fit and firing ahead of Sunday’s Twickenham clash with Argentina.
Team captain Courtney Lawes misses the game as he is still experiencing symptoms from a head injury suffered in September. Owen Farrell (concussion) and Jonny May (elbow) have rejoined the squad but face a race against time to be fit to face the Pumas.
No concerns at this stage for Tuilagi, whose injury-hit career has allowed him only six caps since the last World Cup.
And fly-half Smith, who has never lost in an England shirt when playing alongside the Sale centre, is chomping at the bit to team up again.
“He adds a fear factor to our team,” said the Harlequins playmaker. “I know when I play against him I get that on a Friday night!
“He’s an absolute beast, a freak ball-in-hand. He’s got brilliant hands at the line and he bangs pretty hard in defence.
“It’s lovely to look outside and know he’s there because he’s always got my back, which is pretty special.”
Smith, in his second year as an England regular, has struck up a strong relationship with the wrecking ball midfielder.
“Manu has always looked after me ever since I was young,” he added. "He makes me feel very comfortable, like I can be myself and I love that about him.”
The make-up of the midfield this weekend depends on the availability of inside-centre Farrell, who could also reclaim the captaincy.
Return-to-play protocols dictate a concussed player must stand down for a minimum of 12 days which takes the Saracens star up to Friday.
Farrell has remained as fully involved as is permitted, reviewing footage of England training and feeding back to team mates and coaches.
“He’s a brilliant leader whenever he’s in camp," said Smith. "Driving standards on and off the field, full of ideas and not afraid to speak up.
“So he’s a massive loss and we’ve had to be adaptable, find a way to all step up in our leadership, speak a bit more and drive standards that way.
“But we’re communicating with him - asking him questions and challenge him on his ideas as well - as we feel he can spot things and add things that we may have missed from being in the thick of it.”
Gloucester wing May looked set to miss the autumn after appearing to dislocate an elbow a week ago.
But imaging and scans confirmed the injury to be less serious and he has been passed fit to reintegrate to full training.
ENGLAND - Forwards: Coles, Cowan-Dickie, Curry, Genge, Heyes, Hill, Itoje, McGuigan, Pearson, Rapava Ruskin, Ribbans, Robinson, Rodd, Simmonds, Sinckler, Singleton, Tizard, B Vunipola, M Vunipola, Willis. Backs: Cokanasiga, Farrell, Furbank, Joseph, Malins, May, Murley, Nowell, Porter, Quirke, Slade, Smith, Steward, Tuilagi, van Poortvliet, Youngs.
