Tuilagi’s absence set to impact on England through Six Nations

England could be without Manu Tuilagi for the entire RBS Six Nations after the Leicester centre was ruled out until February with a chest injury.
Manu TuilagiManu Tuilagi
Manu Tuilagi

It was hoped the torn pectoral muscle sustained on Aviva Premiership duty in September would heal without surgery and that he would return to action by next month. But the 22-year-old has been forced to undergo an operation to have the damage repaired, placing his involvement in the Six Nations in jeopardy.

“Manu is probably out for three months,” said Leicester director of rugby Richard Cockerill.

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Even if Tuilagi’s recovery progresses as expected, he will face a race against time to play any role in the Six Nations.

England’s final two matches are against Wales on March 9 and Italy on March 15, offering their main strike runner little scope to regain match fitness before the championship ends.

“Manu Tuilagi has not been able to recover fully from the pec muscle injury with rehab and he had surgery (on Monday) to repair that,” Cockerill said. “He had a reaction right at the end of the rehab process so that was the right thing to do. He will be out for probably three months.

“That’s disappointing because we hoped to have him back in the next few weeks. It’s a blow for him and for us.”

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England have missed Tuilagi’s explosive running and the midfield has struggled in his absence.

Billy Twelvetrees and Joel Tomkins have formed a new-look centre partnership for the QBE Internationals, which conclude against New Zealand on Saturday, that has yet to capture the imagination.

England’s problems in midfield have been further compounded by the loss of Brad Barritt to a foot injury, although he is expected to return by Christmas.

In the opposition’s ranks, New Zealand flanker Kieran Read insists there is extra motivation for the All Blacks to beat England on Saturday – but it is Dan Carter’s 100th cap and not a revenge mission that will be spurring the visitors on at Twickenham.

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Carter will become just the fifth New Zealander to reach a century of caps if he is selected to face England with the 31-year-old fly-half likely to be in the team named by coach Steve Hansen for Saturday’s Test.

England secured a surprise 
38-21 win in the same fixture last year, but Read revealed he will be more concerned with helping Carter mark his appearance milestone rather than look to avenge last December’s loss.

“I think you look at the man who Dan is and he will put the team above everything,” said Read.

“But at the back of my mind, if he is playing I would want to do well for him. It [looking for revenge] can affect you if you start chasing your tails; to be honest it has not been used as motivation at all.”

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Stand-in captain Read has enjoyed a purple patch of form in recent months, but believes the team’s tactics allow him to shine.

“I have improved I think,” he said.

“I feel like I have grown my game a little bit more and the way we are playing is showcasing that.

“I just do my bit, I want to have influence every time I go out on to the field, I want to be the man who has the influence on big plays.”