The first time Manu Tuilagi played against France, England were knocked out of the 2011 World Cup and the next day he was in trouble for jumping off a ferry into Auckland Harbour.

It all seems like a surreal memory from a different lifetime. The Leicester centre has grown up. The recklessness of youth has faded with the passing of years, the onset of parenthood and the personal ordeal of so many protracted injuries.

On Sunday, a mellower, wiser Tuilagi will start for England against France, in round two of this Guinness Six Nations campaign. Last weekend’s glorious occasion in Dublin was the 27-year-old’s first championship start since March 2013, after a Test comeback off the bench in November.

A mellower, wiser Manu Tuilagi will start for England against France at Twickenham on Sunday 

Asked if he could recall his first encounter with the French, in the World Cup quarter-final at Eden Park which marked the end of Martin Johnson’s tenure as manager, Tuilagi said: ‘Oh yes, I remember. It was a good game. We had most of the ball, we attacked really well, we started really well, especially in the first half — we just didn’t finish off our opportunities. They got to the final in the end, fair play to them.’

The following day, his impromptu dip in the harbour added to the catalogue of controversies which had blighted the campaign around New Zealand.

‘That feels like a long time ago,’ said Tuilagi. ‘As you grow up, you live and you learn. All the things that have happened. You make your bed and you’ve got to lie in it. That’s life. You learn and try to be better as a person.’

Last weekend’s display in Dublin was the 27-year-old’s first Six Nations start since March 2013

There have been all manner of incidents and accidents since then. Tuilagi’s primary challenge has been to stay in one piece. He has had so many injury setbacks — especially a groin issue which plagued him — that there have been profound doubts about his ability to ever again be a destructive midfield force.

He tried to remain positive, but it was difficult at times. ‘I always had in my mind when I was injured that I’d be back playing,’ he said. ‘That’s what got me going when I was inside doing my rehab. The boys were outside and I told myself I’d get back out there in the end. You have doubts, you are out of the game for a long time. But I took it week by week when I came back, just to get everything right so I could train fully and then be able to play on the weekend. When you are older, you have to look after your body and for me that’s doing all the things off field to be able to perform on it.’

In fact, Tuilagi has made only 28 Test appearances for his country in seven-and-a-half years. There has been a palpable public desire to see him back. That much was evident when he came on as a replacement against Australia at Twickenham in November.

There have been doubts about his ability to ever again be a destructive midfield force.

Owen Farrell spoke last week about the noise from the crowd which greeted Tuilagi’s arrival and the man himself reflected on that warm reception, saying: ‘It did mean a lot to me. I remember I just wanted to get on as quick as possible and then there was a big cheer. It was amazing. When you think back to all the bad times, it makes it feel better.

‘France are tough opponents and they showed last Friday how good they can be. In that first half I thought, “They are back to their normal selves, playing with French flair”. It was unfortunate they lost at the end but fair play to Wales.’

England’s win over Ireland last Saturday was a ‘special’ event for Tuilagi, given all that he has been through.

But he added: ‘For us, last week is done. It was a massive win, but it is done. We come in, set the game plan for France straight away and move on. Of course you take the momentum with you, but it’s about what we can do on Sunday and we have to prepare ourselves for that.’

He speaks with a calm authority and maturity these days. Tuilagi is savouring his second chapter with England. He is still as joyful in his work as ever, but he is more sensible now. Whatever the result on Sunday, don’t expect to see him taking a dip in the Thames.

Insolvency experts have asked members of a gambling syndicate that suddenly closed last week to detail how much they invested, with thousands of people fearing they have lost their money.

Members of the Layezy Racing syndicate and racehorse owners group, which was run by ex-Kent Police officer Mike Stanley until last Friday, were informed earlier this week that financial advisers Duff and Phelps have been appointed to ‘process refunds to members’.

Members poured money into the syndicate, often borrowing against their properties or on credit cards, in the belief that Stanley’s system for placing bets was doubling and sometimes even trebling their investment. 

Members of the Layezy Racing syndicate fear they may have lost huge sums of money

Some members claim to have as much as £500,000 in the scheme. The total amount invested is likely to amount to tens of millions.

‘It doesn’t look like we are going to get much of our money back,’ one distraught member told Sportsmail on Wednesday. 

‘We can see that this firm in the City have worked as administrators and we are now worried there could be a major shortfall.’

Colombia’s new boss Carlos Queiroz says he will try to build on the legacy of predecessor Jose Pekerman as the former Manchester United coach identifies midfielder James Rodriguez as ‘the heart of the team’.

The Portuguese coach said on Thursday that his two top goals for Colombia will be winning the next Copa America and taking the national team past the quarter-finals at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Queiroz officially took over as Colombia boss on Wednesday, having been in charge of Iran since 2011. He also managed Real Madrid in 2003-04 after Vicente del Bosque departed.

Carlos Queiroz is ready to be ‘demanding’ having taken charge of the Colombia national team

Queiroz was in charge of Iran until 2011 but has been selected to succeed Jose Peckerman 

Speaking to reporters, Queiroz hailed Pekerman for leaving ‘an unbeatable legacy’ and said that Colombia need to ‘build a future’ around Bayern Munich playmaker Rodriguez.

‘He’s the heart of the team,’ Queiroz said when asked about Rodriguez, who was the breakout star at the 2014 World Cup where he scored a tournament-leading six goals.

‘My mission is to improve in all fields. We’re going to be demanding. We’re going to take care of what has been done,’ Queiroz said.

There was a frenzy as the Portuguese arrived for his press conference as he was given flowers

The former assistant manager to Sir Alex Ferguson was presented to the media on Thursday

Pekerman let his contract run out in 2018 after six years and two World Cups with the national team.

The Argentine led Colombia to its first World Cup in 16 years in 2014, when the team reached the quarter-finals.

He also secured qualification again for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where they were knocked out in the round of 16 by England in a penalty shootout.

Queiroz’s first challenge will be the Copa America that kicks off in Brazil in June. 

Colombia is preparing to take on Lionel Messi’s Argentina, Paraguay and guest side Qatar in the group stage.

Queiroz wants to build his new-look side around Bayern Munich playmaker James Rodriguez 

The next obstacle for the new boss is the Copa America this summer with tough games ahead

Mesut Ozil, Dejan Lovren and Kylian Mbappe have led the tributes paid to Cardiff City striker Emiliano Sala. 

The Cardiff City striker’s body was found in the plane wreckage in the English Channel, police have confirmed.

On Wednesday, it emerged an unidentified body – now known to be Sala – was brought off ship, Geo Ocean III, on a stretcher and transferred to a private ambulance before being taken to Dorset Police and the local coroner.

Mesut Ozil, Dejan Lovren and Kylian Mbappe have led the tributes paid to Emiliano Sala

The plane was flying from Nantes, France, the home of Sala’s former team, to Cardiff on January 21, when it crashed into the sea with the new £15million signing and pilot David Ibbotson inside.

Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren posted a heartfelt message on Instagram saying: ‘I prayed every day because hope is the last. This is a great deal to accept. 

‘I can not even imagine how difficult it is for you [Sala’s family]. We are all with you!’

Sala’s body was found in the plane wreckage in the English Channel police have confirmed

Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil said: ‘No words to describe how sad this is.

‘Thoughts and prayers go out to his family and also to the family of the pilot.’

Cardiff released a statement on their website which read: ‘We offer our most heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the family of Emiliano. He and David will forever remain in our thoughts.’ 

Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger said: ‘Heartbreaking to hear the news about Emiliano Sala. Rest in peace!

‘Thoughts go out to the family and friends of Emiliano and the pilot.’

Manchester City forward Sergio Aguero added: ‘Terribly sad. Rest in peace, Emiliano. My condolences to his friends and family.

Mbappe, Antonio Valencia and Ruben Loftus-Cheek all posted ‘RIP’ on social media in tribute to Sala.  

Families of the Argentine striker and pilot David Ibbotson had been anxiously awaiting news over whose body was pulled from the crashed Piper Malibu plane as they seek answers over the tragedy last month.