Manu Tuilagi says England will head to South Africa targeting series glory, with it important that they build on the Six Nations.
England centre eyes Springboks scalp
Manu Tuilagi says England will head to South Africa targeting series glory, with it important that they build on their RBS Six Nations promise.
Only the Grand Slam heroics of Wales prevented Stuart Lancaster from making the perfect start to life in the England hot-seat, with his exploits earning him a shot at the role on a full-time basis.
Expectations have risen on the back of a number of encouraging displays and further progress will be expected this summer.
A three-Test tour of South Africa promises to challenge England to the full, with the 2007 world champions a daunting proposition on home soil.
Leicester Tigers centre Tuilagi insists Lancaster's men will head to the Southern Hemisphere in optimistic mood, though, with there a desire within the camp to pull off something special.
Massive
"They will be three massive Tests for us," he told
Sky Sports.
"We go there to win the series, that's our goal. If we do that, that will be a massive achievement for us.
"We had a good Six Nations and we said at the end, Stuart did a good job and there were a lot of positives. Looking back, we could have won the Grand Slam. But you can't win everything and we just have to look forward to the future.
"For us, as a new team coming together for the Six Nations, we only had a short period of time to gel together. I think we did that really well and hopefully we can continue that in South Africa."
Tuilagi is among those to have welcomed the appointment of Lancaster on a full-time basis, with it important that stability is established on and off the field if England are to fulfil their potential.
Plans
He added: "Stuart Lancaster's aim since he got the job in the first place was just the Six Nations. He had a long-term plan as well, though, and now he's got the job. That's good for a young team and he is putting a new squad together that can go forward."
While Lancaster is the man charged with generating results, his backroom team have an important role to play and Tuilagi is adamant that the decision to bring former World Cup winner Mike Catt on board can only be beneficial.
He said: "Having been selected, it will be really exciting to work with one of the legends in the game. It will be awesome."
Manu Tuilagi has launched Rugby Rocks Powered by PUMA which takes place in London on May 26-27. Go to www.rugbyrocks7s.com
