Six Nations: Manu Tuilagi among several potential returnees for Eddie Jones’ England

Dylan Coetzee

File photo dated 13-11-2021 of England's Manu Tuilagi, who is still waiting to make his comeback from the torn hamstring he suffered while scoring the opening try in the autumn victory over South Africa. Sale say his return is imminent and he will be given a string of club games before being considered by England. Issue date: Thursday January 27, 2022.

Manu Tuilagi headlines a group of players that may return from injury before England’s next round in the Six Nations. 

England claimed a bonus-point win against Italy on Sunday to get their campaign back on track after their opening-round loss to Scotland.

Group of returnees

Eddie Jones will be pleased to have several players potentially returning in time for selection ahead of their clash against Wales next week.

Tuilagi has successfully returned to the field with Sale after suffering a torn hamstring while Courtney Lawes could be available after being out with a concussion.

Joe Launchbury is another returnee of great value for Jones particularly regarding the vast experience of the second-row. Meanwhile, Lewis Ludlam is due to have recovered from rib damage sustained against Scotland.

“Potentially we’ll have Launchbury, Tuilagi, Lawes and Ludlam, so there are a few that could come back into the squad,” head coach Jones said.

“We’d be hopeful that by the end of next week Courtney will be training fully. He’s making some great progress and the medical staff have done some terrific work with him.

“He’s not far away now and we’re really hopeful he’ll be back in full training and able to play against Wales.”

Of the returnees, it will be Tuilagi that adds the most with England missing his muscular presence in a midfield that has lacked punch.

Henry Slade has performed well at inside centre but is not the hard running option that would bring greater balance and if Tuilagi is given the all clear to resume his international career, the Exeter player is likely to move to 13.

“Just having a power running centre would give us a different option,” Jones said.

“Everything we’re doing now is about trying to create opportunities through finesse and that’s through good running lines and passing.

“But to have someone who can take you forward quickly and engage two or three defenders then allows you to try and finesse extra space, which would be really useful to us.

“When you’ve got smaller centres you’ve got to be much better at your running and support lines and passing. I think we’re making some progress there.

“We’ve had three centres play and I think Sladey has been very good. Joe Marchant and Elliot Daly have had their moments, but we need to get more out of that and we understand that.

“If Manu is fit… I’ll have a chat to (Sale director of rugby) Alex Sanderson and Manu to see where they’re at and whether he’s got enough petrol in the tank to make the step up.”

England’s last meeting with Wales was mired in controversy and Jones was happy to reopen old wounds as he reflected on some contentious officiating by Pascal Gauzere that helped their rivals score two tries.

For the first time Jones has been openly critical of Gauzere, stating that his performance was worthy of a Rassie Erasmus-style video critique in reference to the South Africa director of rugby’s condemnation of the officials during the 2021 Lions tour.

When asked what lessons could be learned from last year’s Principality Stadium collision, Jones replied: “I don’t think there is anything to learn from bad refereeing.

“I don’t even remember that game. To me it was a Rassie Erasmus video game because we got two difficult decisions against us early that were apologised for by World Rugby for being incorrect, but that doesn’t get you a result back.

“When you go 14 points down against good opposition you have to be a pretty good team to be able to catch that up. We weren’t good enough to catch it up.”

READ MORE: Eddie Jones says ‘no ceiling’ to how good Marcus Smith can be

 

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England dominate Italy as Six Nations hopes live on

England got their Six Nations campaign back on track after defeating Italy in Rome.