Tuilagi Cited for Care Tip Tackle

England centre Manu Tuilagi has been cited for a 'tip tackle', putting his South Africa tour place in jeopardy.

The Rugby Football Union announced the decision to cite Tuilagi, 21, on Monday evening.

The charge relates to a tackle by the Leicester powerhouse on Harlequins' scrum-half Danny Care during Saturday's Aviva Premiership final at Twickenham.

If the charge is proved, a ban could ruled the centre out of the three-Test tour of South Africa.

In a statement, the RFU said: "Manusamoa Tuilagi, of Leicester Tigers, has been cited for a 'tip tackle' on Harlequins' Danny Care during the Aviva Premiership final at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday, May 27.

"Tuilagi has been charged with a breach of Law 10.4 (j) following a report by the citing officer John Byett and will appear at the Bristol Filton Holiday Inn on Tuesday, May 29 (8pm). The case will be heard by a single RFU judicial officer, Christopher Quinlan QC."

The England squad leave for South Africa on Wednesday, playing Tests against the Springboks in Durban, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth, plus two midweek fixtures.

Tuilagi is a key part of England head coach Stuart Lancaster's plans, but he could land a minimum three-week suspension.

The hard-running centre, one of England's outstanding performers during the RBS 6 Nations campaign, is no stranger to controversy.

He was banned for 10 weeks after punching Northampton and England wing Chris Ashton during a Premiership semi-final at Welford Road last season, although that suspension was reduced to five weeks on appeal.

And during England's ill-fated World Cup campaign in New Zealand last autumn, Tuilagi received a £3,000 fine for jumping from a ferry into Auckland Harbour and a £4,800 punishment from the International Rugby Board for wearing a sponsored mouthguard during the tournament.

Manu Tuilagi Returns for England

Centre Manu Tuilagi returns to the England side as interim head coach Stuart Lancaster makes four changes for the Six Nations game against Wales.

Owen Farrell moves from centre to fly-half to replace Charlie Hodgson, who has a finger injury.

Northampton's Lee Dickson steps in for Ben Youngs at scrum-half, while Scarlets' Ben Morgan starts at number eight in place of Phil Dowson.

Lock Tom Palmer has been dropped in favour of Leicester's Geoff Parling.

Tuilagi, who was fined £3,000 and warned by the Rugby Football Union after jumping off a ferry following England's World Cup exit in New Zealand in October, has played precious little rugby since due to a hamstring problem and a broken cheekbone and eye socket.

Dickson, Morgan and Parling make their first Test starts at Twickenham on Saturday as England look to secure a third successive victory after wins over Scotland and Italy.

"We are looking forward to seeing how Brad and Manu gel together in the centre," Lancaster said.

"Owen has trained throughout and knows our patterns and plays, so we are fully confident in his ability to run the game from 10.

"It's been a good start with two wins but we've got real competition for places and Lee, Ben and Geoff deserve an opportunity to start this game."

Farrell was chosen in the starting XV ahead of Toby Flood, who makes his return to the squad after a spell out with a knee injury.

The Leicester fly-half will be joined on the bench by fit-again Northampton lock Courtney Lawes.

Hodgson, who scored the two tries England have managed so far in this year's Six Nations, is unavailable after cutting and spraining his left index finger in training this week.

"Charlie cut his finger in training earlier in the week and needed stitches, but it swelled up and there is a sprain there," added Lancaster.

"We assessed him this morning [Thursday] and he cannot grip fully.

"Phil and Ben [Youngs] will provide a different role from the bench and it's great to have Courtney and Toby, who can also give us options in what I am sure will be a full-on encounter.

"It's our first home game of the Six Nations, which we are really excited about, and we are sure the crowd will get behind us just as the travelling supporters have done in Scotland and Italy.

"Playing at Twickenham makes it extra special for us and I know we will get all the encouragement we need."

Wales have won only once at Twickenham in the past 25 years - a 26-19 victory during the Grand Slam season of 2008 - but have impressed with Six Nations victories over Ireland and Scotland.

England forwards coach Graham Rowntree believes the hosts will need to perform "10% better" than in their first two games if they are to defeat Wales.

"Wales play at an intensity, a speed and physicality we haven't played against yet," Rowntree told BBC Sport.

"We've spoken about being 10% better at every component of our game."

A victory for Warren Gatland's Wales - World Cup semi-finalists last year - would land them their 20th Triple Crown.

"They are the form team of the championship so far, and they will be coming to Twickenham and fancying their chances," added Rowntree.

"They are a team who are always in it until the last minute of the game, always threatening to break free.

"They pose challenges all over the field from the set-piece to the breakdown and, with the amount of people in space, you have to mark them all the time.

"At our stage of development as a team, it's just the challenge we need."

England team to face Wales: 15 Ben Foden (Northampton Saints), 14 Chris Ashton (Northampton Saints), 13 Manusamoa Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), 12 Brad Barritt (Saracens), 11 David Strettle (Saracens); 10 Owen Farrell (Saracens), 9 Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints). 1 Alex Corbisiero (London Irish), 2 Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), 3 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), 4 Mouritz Botha (Saracens), 5 Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers), 6 Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers), 7 Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, capt), 8 Ben Morgan (Scarlets)

Replacements: 16 Rob Webber (London Wasps), 17 Matt Stevens (Saracens), 18 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), 19 Phil Dowson (Northampton Saints), 20 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers), 21 Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers), 22 Mike Brown (Harlequins)

Safety Ring for Tuilagi with Lancaster

Manu Tuilagi insists he has a new understanding of what it means to play for England - and he is hungry to make a fresh start after returning to action from 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.

"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."

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.

"I've grown up fast in this environment," said Tuilagi. "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."