Lancaster concern over Tuilagi for All Blacks clash
Leicester centre Manu Tuilagi will miss England's opening Test against New Zealand. Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images
Jonathan Joseph, the in-form Bath centre, is poised to return to the England squad next month as head coach Stuart Leicester anxiously awaits today an update today to the groin injury sustained by Manu Tuilagi that is likely to sideline the Leicester player for at least three weeks and rule him out of the opening Test against New Zealand.
Tuilagi lasted 15 minutes of Leicester's Champions Cup victory against Ulster at Welford Road on Saturday night before being forced to leave the action. Having missed the opening weeks of the Tigers' Aviva Premiership campaign with a groin injury there are growing concerns that he may require a significant period of rehabilitation to sort out the problem.
"It's a recurrence of his groin," Richard Cockerill, the Leicester director of rugby, said after the 25-18 victory on Saturday. "How bad that is I have no idea but clearly it's not great news is it? I can't really comment [on how long Tuilagi might be out] but you would imagine that it's not going to be a one-weeker is it?"
The setback for Tuilagi, who is so critical to spearheading the attacking games of both his club and country, is likely to open the door for Joseph. The Bath player, who as of late last week was thought to have just missed out on a place in the senior squad because of the competition for midfield places, has not been involved in the England squad for more than 16 months but he has proven himself to be form outside centre in the country this season.
Lancaster, who is due to name an extended squad of around 40 players tomorrow, may have to also alter his midfield plans as he also awaits for an update today on Kyle Eastmond, Joseph's centre partner at Bath, who picked up a rib injury in the defeat by Glasgow on Saturday.
Eastmond's injury is not thought to be as serious as Tuilagi's, but if there is any doubt to his ability to participate at the start of England's training camp then it is likely that Billy Twelvetrees, whose place was in doubt after a slow start to the season and a difficult, may be offered a reprieve.
One player expected to miss out is the Wasps wing Christian Wade, despite his sensational try against Leinster in the Champions Cup defeat on Sunday. Wade has been in impressive form this season after missing the majority of the campaign last year because of injury, but is appears he is going to have to bide his time with the England Saxons for now.
Meanwhile, the Saracens hooker Schalk Brits has been ruled out until "well into the new year" after sustaining a knee injury in the victory against Clermont Auvergne on Saturday. (© Daily Telegraph, London)
