England coach Eddie Jones: I've told Manu Tuilagi to just run against Wales
ByPA Sport
Updated 11/03/2016 at 08:37 GMT
England centre Manu Tuilagi will be unleashed upon Wales in the second half of Saturday's RBS 6 Nations clash with the simple instruction of running amok.
England centre Manu Tuilagi, pictured, will be given simple instructions by head coach Eddie Jones
Image credit: PA Sport
Tuilagi's 21-month injury-enforced international exile will come to an when he is summoned as a final-quarter replacement at Twickenham after being named on the bench for the visit of Warren Gatland's title pretenders.
Head coach Eddie Jones was convinced that the 24-year-old wrecking ball was ready for his international comeback from a serious groin injury after six games for Leicester when he watched him slice through opponents in training.
"Manu ran two lines on Tuesday and cut a hole in our defence," the Australian said. "Our defence coach Paul Gustard wasn't too happy! He's got something, that lad.
"He has power and pace and that innate rugby sense. Manu is a good rugby player and that combination of power and pace isn't a bad one.
"We haven't adapted his style for Saturday's game - I just want him to find his way. I tend to under-coach him rather than over-coach.
"I told him just to get the ball in his hands - whether it's off nine, 10 or 13. Players like him you don't want to put too many restrictions on.
"It's the same with Billy Vunipola - we don't tell him how to attack. Those sorts of players you need to give more rope and less instruction. We've told Manu to just run.
"When you look at Wales, there are massive opportunities to attack them. Every defence system has its flaws."
Jones uses a cricketing analogy to illustrate why he wants his England team to play with a high level of aggression.
"You go back to the great Ashes cricket series. When have England won Test matches?" Jones said.
"When they've had two fast bowlers - or are least one - who wants to rip every Aussie batsman's head off. To me, that is English sport.
"I'm not an Englishman but I reckon I understand what makes English sport tick and we need to be aggressive.
"Games have been played against Wales since 1881. The score is very close - it's 58-57 (to England).
"There's that intense rivalry there and you're never going to get away from that. There's this little country sitting there next to a big country. It's little brother, big brother."
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