Leicester Manu Tuilagi is the best says Saracens Joel Tomkins

Joel Tomkins admits that Manu Tuilagi has set the benchmark for English centres but the Saracens cross-coder maintains it will not be long until he is displaying his own full array of talents in union.
Tomkins, 25, right, came head to head with the Leicester man last weekend at Wembley and, as with their clubs, it was honours even in the battle of the 13s.
But while Tuilagi, below, has been taking giant strides since making his England debut 12 months ago, Tomkins – who was lured to union by the international success enjoyed by boyhood friend Chris Ashton – has had to be content with taking baby steps as Saracens have slowly eased him into the 15-man code.
That has included playing in front of just a few hundred people for Hertfordshire in the County Championship.
But, having put the hard graft in, Tomkins has been rewarded with three successive Premiership starts this season before dropping to the bench for today’s clash with Exeter.
And while the 2011 champions have demonstrated a new attacking edge in those games, Tomkins feels that his own performances have merely been “solid” with plenty more to come.
Tomkins told The Rugby Paper: “I do not feel I have demonstrated my fully array of talents yet.
“The first three games have been solid and something to build on.
“I had only played ten games of rugby union until the first game of the Premiership season which is not a great deal of matches.
“As the season goes on, I think I, and the team collectively, will develop a lot further.
“Leicester was an enjoyable game to play in even if it was not the result we wanted.
“Manu is a really strong boy and is probably the best 13 in the country so it was a good test for myself. I enjoyed the challenge and that’s where I aspire to be.
“Playing for England is every English player’s dream and that’s the reason I started playing rugby union.
“It would be brilliant for me to play for England but there’s a long road in front of me – I am a realist and there’s a lot of work I need to do to get to that level.”
Although his core skills, according to London Irish director of rugby Brian Smith, the former England attack coach, inset right, are “wonderful” from playing rugby league.
However, conscious that plenty of other converts have been thrown in the deep end and left to sink,
Saracens deliberately took their time with Tomkins after recruiting him from Wigan Warriors in November 2011.
The transition has required patience from both parties but with Tomkins establishing an early understanding with Brad Barritt it would seem to be bearing fruit.
Tomkins said: “Mark McCall has been brilliant and made me feel no pressure in my first season.  He just said to use it as a transitional period with a view to hitting the ground running this season.
“Now I have had a half  season and a full pre-season under my belt and I feel a lot more confident.
“Playing in the County Championship was all part of the learning curve – now I am in a good place to kick on.
“It’s also brilliant to have Chris Ashton at the club although I’ve never lost touch with him. He is still the same guy and, hopefully, we can re-establish the understanding we had together at Wigan.”
DANIEL SCHOFIELD