Six Nations: England's Manu Tuilagi fit to return against Ireland

 

SIX NATIONS: IRELAND V ENGLAND

  • Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
  • Date: Sunday, 10 February
  • Kick-off: 15:00 GMT

Coverage: Watch live on BBC One, BBC One HD, Red Button and online; listen on BBC Radio 5 Live & online; live text commentary on BBC Sport website

England centre Manu Tuilagi has been declared fit for Sunday's Six Nations clash in Ireland.

The 21-year-old was replaced by Billy Twelvetrees in Saturday's 38-18 win over Scotland after an ankle problem.

"The last message we had about Manu was that he's fit and available to train," said head coach Stuart Lancaster.

But Lancaster concedes Gloucester number eight Ben Morgan, who injured his ankle on Saturday, is set to miss out on the trip to Dublin.

"Ben is still in a boot," Lancaster said on Monday. "The last prognosis is that he will struggle to be available for the weekend, I'll know definitely tomorrow.

"But Manu's coming in this afternoon. He's available for Sunday. We'll have a good look at him in the next couple of days."

If Morgan is ruled out, Lancaster expects to keep Northampton flanker Tom Wood at number eight and Wasps' James Haskell at number six after the pair finished the Scotland game in those positions.

"We have not got the scan results back yet so we shall see," said Lancaster. "Ben is a tough lad so it gives us some decisions to make but James Haskell did well there when he came on.

"We'll probably stick with the combination we had. We've done a lot of work with Tom at eight and although he does not play there for his club, he'll probably stick there."

Saracens' flanker Will Fraser, a member of the second-string Saxons squad, has joined the England squad as cover.

England training squad:

Forwards: Props: D Cole (Leicester Tigers), J Marler (Harlequins), M Vunipola (Saracens), D Wilson (Bath Rugby); Hookers: D Hartley (Northampton Saints), T Youngs (Leicester Tigers); Locks: M Botha (Saracens), J Launchbury (London Wasps), C Lawes (Northampton Saints), G Parling (Leicester Tigers); Back-rows: W Fraser (Saracens), J Haskell (London Wasps), M Kvesic (Worcester), B Morgan (Gloucester Rugby), C Robshaw (Harlequins), B Vunipola (London Wasps), T Waldrom (Leicester Tigers), T Wood (Northampton Saints).

Backs: Back three: C Ashton (Saracens), M Brown (Harlequins), B Foden (Northampton Saints), A Goode (Saracens), D Strettle (Saracens); Centres: B Barritt (Saracens), J Joseph (London Irish), M Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), B Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby); Fly-halves: O Farrell (Saracens), T Flood (Leicester Tigers); Scrum-halves: D Care (Harlequins), L Dickson (Northampton Saints), B Youngs (Leicester Tigers).