MANU ON A MISSION

Centre ready to shine against country of his birth

- Alex Spink

ENGLAND V SAMOA 4.45PM, ITV1

TRY telling Manu Tuilagi there is nothing at stake today when England end their pool campaign at the Rugby World Cup.

His team have already won Pool D, guaranteeing a quarterfinal in Marseille next Sunday.

Samoa have lost twice and are unable to advance.

This changes nothing for Tuilagi, up against the country of his birth for the first time and focused on delivering a performance that he withdrew from media duties this week.

In his absence, Owen Farrell and George Ford have led the bulletins after being paired together for the first time in two-and-a-half years.

Few have mentioned Tuilagi, the youngest of six rugby-playing brothers, and the only one to opt for England over Samoa after coming to the UK as a kid and qualifying on residency.

But the Islanders will have thoughts about him, say those who know the wrecking-ball centre bestand his team-mates are glad to be playing with and not against him this evening.