Tuilagi: Included in 25-man squad
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Centres Manu Tuilagi, Brad Barritt and Billy Twelvetrees have all been included in England's 25-man squad to face Ireland.
Uncapped Wasps number eight Billy Vunipola is also in contention to replace Ben Morgan, who has not been included in the travelling party after suffering a sprained ankle against Scotland.
Morgan will remain with the England squad to continue treatment and, although not officially ruled out, the Gloucester forward is a major doubt for the clash at Aviva Stadium.
James Haskell is expected to be promoted into the starting line-up at blindside flanker, with Tom Wood set to shift across the back row to replace Morgan and Vunipola or Thomas Waldrom expected to be named on the bench.
Seven players - Mouritz Botha, Freddie Burns, Ben Foden, Lee Dickson, Will Fraser, Jonathan Joseph and Matt Kvesic - have been released from the squad and will not take part against Ireland.
England are permitted under the terms of their agreement with Premiership Rugby to travel to away games with two additional players to their 23-man match-day squad. Lancaster will confirm the match-day selection on Friday.
England squad to face Ireland:
Backs: Chris Ashton (Saracens), Brad Barritt (Saracens), Mike Brown (Harlequins), Danny Care (Harlequins), Owen Farrell (Saracens), Toby Flood (Leicester), Alex Goode (Saracens), David Strettle (Saracens), Manu Tuilagi (Leicester), Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester), Ben Youngs (Leicester).
Forwards: Dan Cole (Leicester), Dylan Hartley (Northampton), James Haskell (Wasps), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Geoff Parling (Leicester), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, capt), Billy Vunipola (Wasps), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Thomas Waldrom (Leicester), David Wilson (Bath), Tom Wood (Northampton), Tom Youngs (Leicester).
Comments
jamesliveinhope says...
Surely we're not forgetting the power of the bench?
Irish, at home and humiliated last term will throw the kitchen sink at England from the gun. Recent history has shown them building sizeable scores in that period before tiring (in attack at least) later in the game.
Were it me, I'd select Barritt at 12 with a planned introduction of Twelvetrees in the second half.
Posted 15:00 07th February 2013
road2ruin says...
Manu cannot yet be regarded as highly as two of the modern day greats BOD and Nonu. However there is no denying his record in the game so far so lets see if he has the longevity. As for BOD let's get this straight he is the best ever centre you ask the All Black and Kiwis.
Posted 13:19 07th February 2013
markpat says...
I'd still get rid of Flood and have Goode on the bench as my 10 cover, with the intention of playing Farrell for the full 80.
My preference would still be Brown at 15 and Foden starting on the wing. With Goode covering all of fly half, centre and full back from the bench, you can have an impact winger there, like Christian Wade, without having to carry their defensive liabilities for the entire game.
Posted 10:49 07th February 2013
blametheref says...
@Chinstan
Your facts about Brian O' Driscoll need to be corrected. He Played 127 internationals and scored 47 tries, which puts him joint 7th top international try scorer of all time and the top scoring centre of all time. How many tries he made for others, which is also very high, should also be highly regarded as well for his 7 style of 'on the ground work' and incredible defensive nous and tackling ability...without question the best 13 of all time...imagine if he played for The All Blacks!!
Posted 09:32 07th February 2013
zambokke says...
Armchairgeneral, my first para was just a wind up. I agree 100% with your assesment re the centres.
Posted 09:05 07th February 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
Zambokke: your 2nd para is a lot better than your first although i agree England is a culurally diverse rainbow nation, and he better for it. Re your second para, i tottaly agree Barrett's time is not over. I would start him for Wales, but not Ireland. New Zealand but not Australia. He can nullify a player like Roberts or Nonu and reduce the Wales / NZ attacking game plan... but not a player like D'Arcy... and 36 will give him a much tougher time in attack. Dont agree re Chubbylugs "waltzing" Tuilagi back in. He's a key play back after a short break and the right player to start. You cant call the 13 shirt Barrett's. He's a 12 temporarily covering 13. The decision in my view is who plays 12 and they both started last week so not waltzing in there. 36 played better but Barrett was out of position and had a fantastic show in his last England game at 12. 36 last weekend performance Vs Barritt Vs ABs: thats a tough decision! Barritt was better but 36 is the one we want to see. rotate with game plan.
Posted 22:13 06th February 2013
davodiablo says...
As the whole team effectively contribute to scoring tries ,measuring ability on try record alone is short sighted.
Posted 21:13 06th February 2013
NHsaints says...
However much 12trees is a rising talent the combo should be the Barritt-Tuilagi midfield we're used to, we'll need tuilagi to take on BOD (he's one of the few world centers who can) and Barritt's tackling and organisation will be key against the second wave back-row runners that Ireland favour. I still think Goode needs to be dropped, Foden to move to wing and brown rotating to fullback then we can slowly introduce younger lads like Wade on the summer tour of argentina. Goode is just too slow and his defence was shocking against Scotland, Foden on the other hand is a world class finisher and has the pace to play wing and that frees up brown for his favourite position. As for the backrow - I'm still a little surprised at the Hask-6 Wood-8...surely it should be the other way around?
Posted 20:02 06th February 2013
APV1 says...
@ ArmchairGeneral - yep.
Posted 17:25 06th February 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
Apv1 I'm fine with 2 full backs. I think we need it against best teams like ABs and Boks so should establish it given Englands strength in depth at 15. However completely agree Brown / Goode got shown up for pace vs Scotland. Goode was the weaker link despite getting his choice of position. And totally agree Brown should be 15 especially when we have a play maker at 12 re 12trees. Goode is a playmaker at 15 when Barrett is 12. Foden has pace of a winger. Should be Foden 11. Brown 15. Given the backs selected assuming 12trees is at 12, Brown needs to be 15. Goode or Strettle therefore on wing but should be Foden... Biggs bench.
Posted 17:10 06th February 2013
zambokke says...
Heathy, why do you presume that Fish is S.African? Most countries have a historic grudge against England (and Australia!) for some reason or other - probably because you had such a great empire. Anyway, there is no reason for us to hold a grudge against most the guys in your paragraph, Tuilagi, Waldrom, Vunipola, Barrit? They aren't English. Shame that Botha didn't make the team. You guys are the true Rainbow Nation.
On a serious note though, what a great situation for England to be in re quality centres - I'm not sure which combination will work best, but look forward to watching them against O'Driscoll and D'Arcy. Some seriously good midfield talent on both sides. Don't underestimate Barrit's defensive qualities and also his organising skills - he will suit certain teams (such as NZ) more than 36.
Posted 16:51 06th February 2013
chubbylugs says...
i think we'll see the same centres as last week. if lancaster wants to remain consistent with selection policy then players need to work and earn their place and not waltz back in, even if missing for just one game. i dont think he should make an exception for any player. tuilagi will come on and probably start the next game
Posted 16:01 06th February 2013
APV1 says...
Centres aside, I'm still concerned about our back 3. With Strettle there, we only have two specialist wingers - him and Ashton. CA will start, so who's on the other?
Brown should be at 15. He's a brilliant 15. A friend of mine described him as one of the most determined players he's seen, who fights for every inch and not to be put down. But he's not got the pace for a winger.
And I still don't see Goode as a better 15 than Brown.
So there's a dilema. If we want two FBs on the pitch, we should have Brown at 15 and a faster FB at 14 - Foden, Abendanon, etc.
But I'd prefer two specialist wingers. Ashton is a big fast lad who can pick a line. Compliment him with Wade or Biggs and you've cracked it.
But I can see Ashton and Brown on the wings with Goode at 15. Yes, we've won the last couple of matches, but not because of that combo, in spite of it.
Posted 15:28 06th February 2013
irishaussie says...
Ireland's midfield really struggles against the prop-sized centres that come their way such as tuilagi and bastereau, I don't think their shouldn't be any question about tuilagi's selection this weekend...
now the question is who plays alongside him, the tried and tested Barritt or new and exciting 12trees who was impressive against Scotland. I think I would go with Barritt because he has proven he can cope with adversity when things aren't going England's way, and the fact is this isn't the time to be testing out too much new blood, that's what summer tour, November tests and Scotland are for...
Posted 15:13 06th February 2013
jamesliveinhope says...
"battering" an interesting choice of vocabulary for someone called "FISH".
I thinks its refreshing to see that England now have 6 options at centre three of which are quality 10s.
Posted 14:58 06th February 2013
kybone says...
For me 36 definitely starts. The difficulty is do we go for the solid start with Barritt then bring on Tuilagi for the late impact, or go for the big start with Tuilagi then bring on Barritt to try and close the game out.
FISH- Moron. Name some centres that have a try scoring ratio of one per game. Even BOD's try record only equates to about 1 in 3 and, for me, theres never been a better centre.
Posted 13:55 06th February 2013
RugbyNut says...
Tuilagi at 13 with Twelvetrees at 12 - simples! Put Brown where he belongs at 15 and lose Strettle who doesn't have the strength to challenge the big opposition wingers. Then bring in Monye on the wing. Can I apply for the England Manager job via PR?
Posted 13:43 06th February 2013
Chinstan says...
correction Ma'a Nonu has 76 caps
Posted 13:29 06th February 2013
Chinstan says...
@Fish O'Driscoll 121 caps 24 tries - Ma'a Nonu 61 caps 25 tries these are 2 of the best centres in the world and neither have as high a try scoring record as Manu. Also he has scored against Fra, Wal, Ire, Aus & NZ. But yeah still not effective!
Posted 13:25 06th February 2013
vaizpatu2011 says...
@FISH...lol!! Yeah, Tuilagi score 2 against Sri Lanka, 2 against Colombia and 3 against Chile. Woman!! do you even watch rugby?
Posted 11:17 06th February 2013