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Manu Tuilagi gives England's Six Nations hopes a timely boost

Manu Tuilagi has returned to the Leicester line-up (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Manu Tuilagi has given England a pre-Six Nations boost by returning from injury for Leicester’s European Challenge Cup clash against Pau.

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The Tigers centre has missed three games due to a groin injury but he will captain Leicester in south-west France on Saturday.

Leicester have already won Pool Five and secured a quarter-final place, yet a top-four seeding is their quest at Stade du Hameau.

Fit-again Wales Six Nations squad member Jonah Holmes is on the bench, with Tigers’ replacements also including England prop Dan Cole.

“We’ve rotated the squad and shared opportunities for game-time throughout the Challenge Cup, and the guys have done very well so far,” Leicester head coach Geordan Murphy said.

(Continue reading below…)

RugbyPass talk to England and Leicester centre Manu Tuilagi about all things Lions

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“This is a really good opportunity for us to gain experience in France and to try to build on the performances we’ve had in the last few weeks.”

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If Pau win, it would leave them firmly in the last-eight mix as a potential best runner-up qualifier, and knock Cardiff Blues out of contention.

Welsh challengers the Blues and Scarlets have hopes of progressing, with both sides effectively needing bonus-point victories.

The Blues host Italian minnows Calvisano and Scarlets visit London Irish on Saturday in pursuit of remaining runners-up qualification spots, with Blues also requiring a Leicester victory.

Four of the five groups have already produced winners and confirmed quarter-finalists in Leicester, Bristol, Toulon and Bordeaux-Begles.

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Two from three in Pool One – Castres, Worcester and Dragons – are also set to progress, while Edinburgh will confirm a knockout place if, as expected, they beat Murrayfield visitors Agen on Saturday.

A five-point maximum for Scarlets at the Madejski Stadium should be enough, although added security would arrive courtesy of Leicester beating Pau.

Bristol should progress as top seeds if they beat Zebre in Italy. “The win is vital to us, and we’ve put ourselves in a position where all we need is a win,” Bristol rugby director Pat Lam told the club’s official website.

“We only have to look back at last year and what happened, where we were very disappointing and lost to Zebre over there. So, we’ve referenced that game this week. It’s a big motivation to ensure we get the job done.”

Elsewhere, already-eliminated Wasps host Bordeaux in Pool Three, while Toulon entertain Bayonne and Stade Francais visit Brive.

– Press Association 

WATCH: Jim Hamilton discusses all the news of the week in the latest episode of Don’t Mess With Jim

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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