ENGLISH BIG GUNS RETURN FOR IRISH BATTLE
MANU TUILAGI and Ben Youngs are set to return to England’s starting XV for Sunday’s Six Nations showdown with Ireland at Twickenham.
The Leicester pair are expected to take over from outside centre Jonathan Joseph and scrum-half Willi Heinz when head coach Eddie Jones names his side late this morning.
Tuilagi missed the win over Scotland at Murrayfield with a minor groin problem which had forced him off early during the opening defeat against France in Paris, while Youngs is poised to be restored to his familiar role as the starting No 9.
Tuilagi is likely to be included in the wider midfield channel, rather than at inside centre, even though Henry Slade is back in selection contention after injury.
That means George Ford and Owen Farrell will continue their 10-12 alliance despite the physical threat posed by Ireland’s imposing centres Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw.
Jones retained a squad of 27 to prepare for the encounter, with cover needed due to minor niggles.
Bath prop Beno Obano was on training duty again yesterday and sources have indicated that his presence was due to Joe Marler being one of those players hampered by a slight fitness doubt.
Loosehead is an area of English strength, but Jones is already having to make do without his pre-eminent No1, Mako Vunipola, as Saracens’ veteran Lion is back in Tonga for family reasons.
Marler would be the man most likely to step up, having already started in Paris.
But if there is any doubt about his involvement, Ellis Genge would start after his match-winning exploits in Edinburgh, with Obano on stand-by for a bench role.
Last night, the indications were that Marler would be declared fit, but there may be a late decision about that part of the front row.
George Furbank is another who has been carrying a slight knock in training this week.
If he is deemed unfit for a third England appearance, Elliot Daly would revert to full-back, with Ollie Thorley in line for a debut on the wing.
Youngs is now at the far end of the experience scale, as the 30year-old gears up to reach his Test century with a 98th cap for England, to add to two international matches for the Lions in 2013.
He has made the scrum-half place his personal kingdom over the course of a decade and he admitted yesterday that learning to put rugby aside has been a factor in his longevity at this level.
‘When I’m on it, I’m on it, but when training is done for the day, I will switch off,’ he said. ‘Having a wife and kids helps with that.
‘Whether it is hard times at Leicester — which there certainly have been over the last few seasons — to the disappointment of the World Cup, when you go home your kids don’t mind what is going on. They have no idea.
‘It just gives you that balance. It allows me to clear my mind and relax.’
Youngs will be 34 when the next World Cup comes around in 2023, so there has been a lot of speculation about his future since the last tournament in Japan.
However, at a time when he is understood to have all but finalised a new contract at Leicester in order to prolong his international career, he set his stall out to keep playing for England for years to come.
‘Eddie makes the decision whether you’re here or not. The only thing you can do as a player — which I’ll continue to do — is have that desire to improve and be better and to be here.
‘As long as I’m doing that then it’s up to him whether that is good enough to be part of it.
‘I’m very much set on trying to play for England and be a part of this group. I’m 30, but I still feel like I have a lot to give.
‘Thirty may seem old in rugby terms, but in my position I still think that is pretty young. My desire is to play for England and be a part of the Premiership.’
Youngs stopped short of confirming he would be staying with the Tigers, joking: ‘That’s between me and my agent.’
However, it is thought that he is committed to playing on for the East Midlands club — as well as for England. ENGLAND (possible): G Furbank (Northampton); J May (Leicester), M Tuilagi (Leicester), O Farrell (Saracens, capt), E Daly (Saracens); G Ford (Leicester), B Youngs (Leicester); J Marler (Harlequins), J George (Saracens), K Sinckler (Harlequins); M Itoje (Saracens), G Kruis (Saracens); L Ludlam (Northampton), T Curry (Sale), S Underhill (Bath).