Steve Borthwick names 36-man England squad for Ireland clash after woeful France loss

Manu Tuilagi has an unexpected opportunity to force his way back into England’s midfield for the Six Nations finale against Ireland in Dublin, after Ollie Lawrence was ruled out with injury.

Bath centre Lawrence damaged a hamstring in the second half of the national team’s dire 53-10 defeat at the hands of France. 

This morning, the RFU have confirmed that he is unavailable for selection to face the Grand Slam-chasing Irish at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

The up-shot is that the door has re-opened for Tuilagi, weeks after his prospects appeared bleak. Sale’s 31-year-old wrecking-ball veteran was left out of England’s match-day 23 for the first two rounds of the championship and Lawrence made his mark with an explosive return to the side against Italy. Tuilagi was sent back to his club for game-time, only to be sent off in a Premiership match against Northampton.

When he was duly hit with a four-match ban, there appeared no hope of a return during the Six Nations, leading to doubts about his international future. 

Manu Tuilagi could be set for an unexpected start when England play Ireland this weekend

With Lawrence forging an alliance with Henry Slade and Leicester rookie Dan Kelly identified as an England centre-in-waiting, Tuilagi was in danger of being left out in the cold, as he considered an end-of-season move to France of Japan.

But how quickly the picture has changed. National coach Steve Borthwick opted to keep Tuilagi closely involved during the training camp leading up to the France game, so that he could be in the mix for a role against Ireland. Now that Lawrence has been sidelined, there is a prime opportunity to make a comeback and show the Red Rose hierarchy that he can still wreak havoc.

It comes at a time when Borthwick is hurriedly addressed a chronic power defeat which was exposed by Fabien Galthie’s French title-holders. In the face of an onslaught at Twickenham led by the visitors’ back row and their imposing centres, Jonathan Danty and Gael Fickou, England were blown away. The coaches will have to consider a selection revamp and Tuilagi is bound to come into their thinking as someone capable of providing additional clout.

George Ford has also been recalled by England after playing the full 80 minutes for Sale in their defeat at London Irish on Sunday. It means that Borthwick once again has his three leading fly-halves to choose from, with the option of redeploying captain Owen Farrell at 12.

Another Sale player, lock Jonny Hill, is included in a 36-man squad to prepare for the Irish showdown, while Borthwick has also summoned Leicester centre Guy Porter, London Irish wing Ollie Hassell-Collins and Harlequins prop Will Collier. While Lawrence and Courtney Lawes are unavailable due to injury, Tigers prop Joe Heyes and Sam Simmonds, Exeter’s turbo-charged No 8, have also been omitted from the training group.