Tuilagi to make long-awaited England start in Dublin
Manu Tuilagi will make his first England start since 2014 in the blockbuster Six Nations clash with Ireland but there is no place in the squad for Joe Launchbury or Mike Brown.
Tuilagi made his international comeback off the bench against Australia last November and will make up the centre pairing with Henry Slade in Dublin on Saturday, with Ben Te'o ruled out due to a side strain.
Locks Maro Itoje and George Kruis are paired together as Launchbury misses out and Courtney Lawes starts on the bench, while brothers Mako and Billy Vunipola are back among the pack.
Elliot Daly gets the nod at full-back as Brown is overlooked, with Owen Farrell captaining the side at fly-half.
Co-captain Dylan Hartley (knee) will not be involved at the Aviva Stadium, where Tom Curry and Mark Wilson will make their Six Nations debuts.
Jack Nowell and Jonny May start on the wings, with Chris Ashton named among the replacements along with uncapped scrum-half Dan Robson.
England: Elliot Daly, Jonny May, Henry Slade, Manu Tuilagi, Jack Nowell, Owen Farrell (captain), Ben Youngs; Mako Vunipola, Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler, Maro Itoje, George Kruis, Mark Wilson, Tom Curry, Billy Vunipola.
Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Harry Williams, Courtney Lawes, Nathan Hughes, Dan Robson, George Ford, Chris Ashton.
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So Ireland will be tired, despite having the most rested test squad in the world. They only play tests, champions cup and urc play off games ffs! Case in point; Leinster sent a B squad to SA for their last two games while their first xv rested up and trained at their leisure for the sf vs Saints at the so called ‘neutral venue’ of Croke Park. So tired? Do me a favour… And as for “people’s champions”? Seriously??? Outside of Ireland they are respected for their ability to win 6N. And of course plenty of inconsequential test friendlies without any real pressure. WC ko games when the pressure is white hot? Not so much…
Go to commentsSurprising how standing down or benching a player can do wonders for their motivation. Several players this week in that category.
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