US Edition 
Six Nations 2016: Eddie Jones opens door for Manu Tuilagi to play in Wales decider
England coach reveals Leicester centre has chance of making squad even if he has only 20 minutes of Test rugby in him
Eddie Jones has given his strongest indication yet that Manu Tuilagi is likely feature in his 23-man squad to face Wales at Twickenham on March 12 as the Leicester centre impressed again in his club’s 47-20 victory over London Irish at Welford Road on Sunday.
Tuilagi played the full 80 minutes in his second comeback game from a hamstring injury that disrupted his bid to play himself back to match fitness after 15 months on the sidelines with a groin problem.
On Sunday night Leicester’s director of rugby Richard Cockerill urged Jones not to pick Tuilagi, but the 24-year-old will join up with the England squad on Monday as they begin their preparations for what is likely to the RBS Six Nations title decider against Wales.
Jones, however, said that Tuilagi had enough time to play his way into contention for the game against Wales if he impressed during at a training camp in Bath this week.
“There’s always time,” said Jones. “Look, he is a good enough player. He is a good enough player to come into the squad.
“That is the first thing. I went and watched him play against Harlequins two weeks ago and he looked in pretty good nick. He probably only has got 20 minutes of Test rugby in him at the moment but that 20 minutes could be pretty good.
“If Manu comes in and makes a dash, he is going to have a chance of getting into the 23. We want to be the best team in the world and to be the best team in the world in every position you need to have three good options and I just have to select the right one. The players don’t have to worry, all they have to do is train.”
Cockerill, however, insisted there was no rush to bring Tuilagi back into the national squad.
“Manu will be with England from tomorrow and then back with us to play Exeter next Sunday. It’s up to England if he plays against Wales not me.
“England have all the power and I’m not stupid enough to have a fight I can’t win. So if Eddie wants to play him, he will. That’s the agreement. He’s back after injury and he’s finding his fitness.
“England are going well so there’s no need to pick him, is there? England have played really well and should play the same 23.”
Tuilagi is likely to replace Elliot Daly on the bench against Wales but, if he is brought into the action, is likely to replace Owen Farrell at inside centre. For Leicester on Sunday, Tuilagi demonstrated a keen understanding with veteran South African Jean de Villiers as Tigers leapt into fourth in the table.
De Villiers, 35, who joined the club in the autumn, scored one of the seven tries against Irish. “What number he [Tuilagi] wears is irrelevant really, 12 or 13,” Cockerill said. “For us De Villiers will do certain parts of that job anyway. At 12, you need someone more direct and Manu is direct.
“I think England will pick Manu at 12 eventually because they have very good options at 13 with Jonathan Joseph and Elliot Daly. So Manu would be a good fit at 12 making holes for others.”
England fly-half George Ford claimed Tuilagi’s return would give England an extra dimension.
“Manu is obviously a huge guy and the way he carries, and he loves smashing people, which means he is a great guy to have in the team,” said Ford. “I don’t know whether or not he is going to be back in or not but I think it is good for the squad that we have competition like that in every position.” Significantly Jones said that Ford would remain at fly-half, Farrell’s normal position, even if Tuilagi comes off the bench as an inside-centre, where Farrell has played in England’s first three Six Nations victories.
Ford said Jones’s backing filled him with “massive confidence” and England were determined to attack Wales.
“I think the one thing he [Jones] does say that you have to live up to that,” said Ford. “You have to go out there and train as well as you can and play as well as you can otherwise you will end up losing that so he is not just saying it regardless.
“Everyone has got to work for it, everyone has got to perform, everyone has got to keep getting better because one thing he is constantly striving for is people day in, day out to get better at the game.
“The way Eddie wants to play is very attacking. He wants to have a great defence and a great set-piece and the foundations are there first and foremost. But he wants to go out and attack teams and we want to do that and score tries – that’s why we play the game.”