Manu Tuilagi ready to make fresh start in England colours

Manu Tuilagi has done a lot of growing up in the last six months and now feels ready to make a fresh start with England after overcoming a double injury setback.

The Leicester centre had been one of the few on-field success stories of England's failed World Cup campaign - but he returned home from New Zealand in shame.

Tuilagi's decision to jump from a ferry into Auckland harbour, the day after England's World Cup quarter-final defeat to France, was the final scandal of a tournament dogged by controversy.

The 20-year-old then suffered a shattered eye-socket followed by a hamstring injury, which has restricted him to just five games for Leicester.

But Tuilagi is back in the England fold now - a new environment built by interim coach Stuart Lancaster which places pride and honour in the jersey at the heart of everything - with a shot at redemption.

"When you wear the red rose you go out and represent everyone in the country. That has been clarified," Tuilagi said.

"That comes from the experiences I had in New Zealand. After that you learn and change things.

"I've grown up fast in this environment. I feel I've learned a lot and with that experience I've grown up as a person as well as a player.

"I didn't realise before how much attention and scrutiny you get on you as an England rugby player. I realise it now. I realise I've got to make better decisions in future.

"The World Cup obviously wasn't great, but we've got the Six Nations now to focus on.

"I had a good World Cup personally. I didn't expect to play all those games but it feels like I'm almost starting again with England.

"I have to put in the work."