Ireland centre Bundee Aki hopes to make a statement as he goes up against England juggernaut Manu Tuilagi in Dublin.
Aki âstayed awayâ from his opposite number the last time the pair faced each other â 12 years ago in a college game â but he will see plenty of the 27-year-old as Ireland begin their Six Nations defence on Saturday.
New Zealand-born Akiâs rugby odyssey has seen him settle with Connacht, where he is now the passionate heartbeat of Joe Schmidtâs Ireland squad.
The former Waikato Chiefs centre enjoyed a sixth-form stint at Truro College and while there he faced Tuilagi, who then played for John Cleveland College.
Aki said: âI remember playing against Manu in England when I went to school in Cornwall, to Truro College, we had a game and he was on the wing.
âHe was a young kid back then. I remember playing that game. It was me and (Newcastle and Fiji utility back) Josh Matavesi playing in that same team.
Aki last came up against Tuilagi in a college game 12 years ago.
âThat was the only time, back then, but I didnât go up against him as he was obviously out on the wing so I stayed away. If you see my photos back then I wasnât big, I was a very skinny kid.â
Aki is ready to face the modern-day Tuilagi, who will make his first Six Nations start since 2013.
âThe likes of Owen Farrell and Manu, they are very physical,â Aki said. âFarrell is deceptively strong and Manu is just the same. You can see it in the way he carries the ball.
âIn any game you play against the English, youâve just got to make sure your physicality is up there. You canât go in there thinking they will play a wide game and you forget about the physicality.
âThatâs your first point of contact, making sure you make a statement and make a mark on that.â
Irelandâs boldest selection call in some time has been for head coach Joe Schmidt to shift centre Robbie Henshaw to full-back for Saturdayâs hotly-anticipated battle.
Stalwart full-back Rob Kearney is fit but Schmidt has handed Henshaw just his second cap in the number 15 shirt.
Asked what Henshaw brings to 15, Schmidt said: âI think a game intelligence. You have got to be able to anticipate play really well and connect in that pendulum with the back-three.
âHe is exceptional in the air, akin to Rob Kearney.
âI think he has the full spectrum of skills required to play the position and we would love it if that was evident on Saturday.â
Asked if it would be premature to write off Kearneyâs Test career, Schmidt added: âYes, definitely. There isnât one big game where Rob has not had an impact in big moments.â