London: England are hoping to use Manu Tuilagi as a “wrecking ball” as they go in search of a convincing Six Nations victory over Italy in Rome on Saturday. The Leicester centre has been recalled to the matchday 23 for the final round of the championship and will take the place of Saracens’ Alex Goode on the replacements’ bench.
Stuart Lancaster’s side require either a high-scoring victory or a France win over Ireland in Paris if they are to win the title and Tuilagi’s recall is clearly designed to put pressure on a tiring Italy defence during the second-half. “He can be a wrecking ball for us,” said the forwards coach, Graham Rowntree.
“He has been outstanding in training and we felt that now was right to bring him back in. He has had a bit more training time than this time last week and we are happy with what we’ve seen from him.”
Tuilagi, who has played only one club game since recovering from surgery on a torn pectoral muscle, will cover both centre and wing, with either Jack Nowell or Jonny May dropping back to full-back if Mike Brown is injured. Lancaster intends to name the same starting XV who beat Wales 29-18 on Sunday as England seek to end the tournament with a fourth successive win.
Rowntree is adamant England will not throw caution to the winds prematurely, having beaten Italy by only seven and four points respectively in their last two Six Nations meetings. “We are going out there to win the game first,” he said. “Not many sides have gone over there and smashed them. We’ve scored only one try in two games against them that shows you what they’re like. We’re going to have to play very well to beat them.”
In addition to the matchday 23, the Wasps prop Matt Mullan and the Bath centre Kyle Eastmond will be travelling to Rome as cover. Lancaster, who will confirm his starting lineup on Thursday, has opted not to rush back London Irish’s Marland Yarde but made clear that several players not selected during the Six Nations would be invited to tour New Zealand this summer.
“Every member of the squad has contributed to the cause over the last seven weeks and those not involved this weekend deserve massive credit for the way they have trained and pushed for places,” Lancaster said. “There will be opportunities down the line, not least on the tour to New Zealand. They can further stake their claims for that trip with strong performances for their clubs.”
— Guardian News & Media Ltd
