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
JamieTheProp says...
Looks like we are beginning to build some strength in depth and different options in another position - which is always good.
Just need to sort out the wing now and I think we are looking at a bright future.
But then what do I know - I am a prop after all!
Posted 11:07 06th February 2013
craigsman says...
Fish - Manu has not scored against Scotland but 2 of those tries were against Oz and NZ - so you know diddly.
As to the squad, I can't for the life of me work out why Flood is there. So they put him in and move Faz out to 12 against Scotland? But then does 36 come off and Barritt/Tuilagi come on? I would give 36 the full 80 and play Barritt/Tuilagi alongside (depending on how they are in training and how they want to play) and then just do a straight swap of Faz for Flood.
Posted 10:57 06th February 2013
heathy says...
At it again FISH. I'm now not sure whether it is Tuilagi that you have an issue with or England as you seem to troll on both subjects. I bet you're South African.
Anyway, I think that Barritt will stay and Tuilagi will be on the bench. Strettle will go. The backs will remain the same bar the swap of Tuilagi for Strettle. I Like Barritt as he is solid and consistent. He's hard working and puts his tackles in. There is no reason IMO to drop him. Tuilagi on his day is a world beater but his day comes in dribs and drabs. He also hasn't had much game time recently after his injury and that's why he's a bencher for me. The forwards will also be the same bar Wood for Morgan, Haskell for Wood and I hope Billy Vunipola on the bench. I would love to see Vunipola get a crack as he is a fantastic potential. Big ball carrying back rower who is still very young (20?). However, I fear it will be Waldrom.
Posted 10:44 06th February 2013
lawynd says...
@FISH - well, one of those scores (and two assists) were against your precious All Blacks...
Posted 10:43 06th February 2013
blametheref says...
Even with Tommy Bowe out, England have to be wary of the Irish wings, who going forward can make something out of nothing and that's all ireland need to get confidence and momentum to go and win. As an attacking force Ireland can be lethal against bigger men especially. This game will hinge on whether England can grind the Irish forwards to powder, which they are capable of if they get everything right. If this gets loose Ireland will win, if England play tight they will win...All said, this is going to be a great match without doubt!
Posted 09:54 06th February 2013
FISH says...
@chinstan, thats not even a score a game....and cnsidering he probably scored two or more tries against woeful opposition, namely the sub par scottish, and welsh teams....yeah still not impressed one dimensional and only draws in tow or more defenders against inexerienced and weak forward packs, hardly any vision ....he just runs at you
Posted 09:53 06th February 2013
Bones7 says...
@ram83, I had a good chuckle at 36! FISH you are crazy. They are different positions for a start, Twelvetrees is a distributing 12, Tuilagi is a hard running 13. Tuilagi isn't there to make gaps, he's there to run into them, or run into something that's stopping a gap from being there. His defence is very good and so are his hands, so is his pace, so as a 13 he ticks all the boxes.
Posted 09:20 06th February 2013
rugby_rockstar says...
Now that everyone's had a look at Billy they'll mark him as closely as people mark Jamie Roberts UNLESS you have Manu Tuilagi to watch out for too. then it down to woen farrel and twelvetrees to spin those passes out to the wings as well. I don;t think Barritt is a big enough threat to stop defences shutting down twelvetrees. It time to say thank you Brad but the team's out grown last year's ten man game plan.
Posted 09:12 06th February 2013
Chinstan says...
@FISH Yeah you're right 9 tries in 17 starts is not effective at all!
Posted 09:04 06th February 2013
ramm83 says...
@Fish - I agree with you to a level... Tuilagi could be considered "one dimensional" but he draws defenders and opens up gaps. That's why I think him and 36 would be such a good partnership, especially with Ashton running off the back of them...
Posted 08:45 06th February 2013
FISH says...
the battering ram which isn't all that effective as english fans make out, returns....really think twelve trees could develop into a far better centre, but hey that's my opinion
Posted 08:07 06th February 2013