The China Mail - Barista Tuilagi comes of age for Rugby World Cup semi-final

That is when the 32-year-old coffee-making fanatic has been fit for selection.

Resilience has been key to his character throughout his career with numerous injuries and suspensions giving it a stop start feel.

On Saturday, the 32-year-old will make his 58th England appearance in the Rugby World Cup semi-final against South Africa at the Stade de France.

It comes four years on after a barnstorming performance at the same stage of the competition in Japan during the win over New Zealand.

The Samoa-born centre was also a crucial part of England's Six Nations successes in 2016 and 2020 offering a unique skillset with and without the ball.

"He can pass, he can kick, he can take on defenders before the tackle, he can take on defenders after the tackle and off-load and he can go through people or around people with his feet and pace," former England centre Jamie Noon told AFP this week.

"He's a real player of top-class quality, I'm sure anyone coming up against him is saying exactly the same," he added.

During this World Cup campaign Tuilagi, whose brothers Freddie, Henry, Alesana and Andy all featured for Samoa, has been at the forefront of England's unbeaten run into the semis.

England opened their campaign by beating Argentina despite playing with 14 men for 77 minutes, whilst Tuilagi scored in last Sunday's 30-24 quarter-final victory over Fiji.

"I think he played a crucial role against Argentina when he was involved in carrying regularly because we were men down," Noon said.

"He took over the role of a back-row, did some of the hard yards, the hard work.

"He's capable of doing everything, that's the beauty of him," he added.

- 'Up for it' -

Tuilagi has been given numerous chances after off the field problems but seems finally to have matured.

In 2011, aged 20 he was fined for jumping into Auckland harbour and missed the World Cup four years later after pleading guilty to assaulting two police officers.

He has also been suspended on numerous occasions for ill-discipline on the pitch.

Tuilagi came through Leicester Tigers' academy, winning the English Premiership twice, but moved to Sale Sharks in 2020.

"He really takes interest in his team-mates," Sale's South Africa fly-half Robert du Preez told AFP on Thursday.

"He kind of started our coffee corner, he taught everyone how to use the machine, he'll be there for 20 minutes making everyone brews.

"He makes a lot of effort with the boys," the 30-year-old added.

Aside from a love of coffee Tuilagi is equally attached to chess and snooker.

"They are all hobbies my missus does not like," he told The Daily Telegraph in 2022.

Still he sees similarities between chess and rugby.

"Definitely, there are lessons there, similar to chess in the way you manipulate defences," Tuilagi told the Telegraph.

"It is exactly the same. You see the same things in chess. You make a move on the other side of the board knowing that two or three moves ahead the other side will open up.

"It is a bit like that in rugby you play 2-3 phases in one area knowing it may be the fourth or fifth phase that is going to open up the opportunity."

Tuilagi starts Saturday's game at inside centre, alongside Owen Farrell at fly-half and Joe Marchant in the No. 13 shirt.

"He (Tuilagi) has real weight, he can punch a defence and enable Owen to open up with some long passes and the kicking threat," Noon said.

"Ideally it would give guys on the outside some space to work in," he added.

Coming up against Tuilagi at the Stade de France will be Damian De Allende, who weighs just 1kg heavier than his England counterpart.

"Manu and Damian play similar roles and do it just as well as each other," Du Preez said.

"Knowing Manu he's going to be up for it, knowing Damian he's going to be up for it.

"It's going to be a really good contest between them."

U.Feng--ThChM