England vs South Africa: Manu Tuilagi suffers groin strain and is replaced in squad by Chris Ashton
Manu Tuilagi has been ruled out of England’s Autumn International with South Africa on Saturday by a minor groin strain, robbing him of the chance to make his return to international rugby this Saturday.
Tuilagi sustained the injury during England’s final full training session on Thursday and has been withdrawn from the bench for the opening Quilter International.
Chris Ashton, who was initially left out of the match-day 23 announced by Eddie Jones but retained with the squad in a reserve capacity, fills the vacancy on the bench.
“Manu’s disappointed. He desperately wanted to play for England again,” scrum head coach Neal Hatley said on Friday.
England’s autumn international squad
1/36 Ben Moon (Exeter Chiefs)
2/36 Alec Hepburn (Exeter Chiefs)
3/36 Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
4/36 Jamie George (Saracens)
5/36 Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs)
6/36 Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)
7/36 Nick Schonert (Worcester Warriors)
8/36 Maro Itjoe (Saracens)
9/36 Charlie Ewels (Bath)
10/36
11/36 George Kruis (Saracens)
12/36 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
13/36 Brad Shields (Wasps)
14/36 Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons)
15/36 Michael Rhodes (Saracens)
16/36 Tom Curry (Sale Sharks)
17/36 Sam Underhill (Bath)
18/36 Zach Mercer (Bath)
19/36 Ben Morgan (Gloucester)
20/36 Ted Hill (Worcester Warriors)
21/36 Danny Care (Harlequins)
22/36 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
23/36 Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens)
24/36 Owen Farrell (Saracens)
25/36 George Ford (Leicester Tigers)
26/36 Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers)
27/36 Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
28/36 Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors)
29/36 Alex Lozowski (Saracens)
30/36 Nathan Earle (Harlequins)
31/36 Elliot Daly (Wasps)
32/36 Jonny May (Leicester Tigers)
33/36 Chris Ashton (Saracens)
34/36 Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)
35/36 Joe Cokanasiga (Bath)
36/36 Mike Brown (Harlequins)
1/36 Ben Moon (Exeter Chiefs)
2/36 Alec Hepburn (Exeter Chiefs)
3/36 Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
4/36 Jamie George (Saracens)
5/36 Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs)
6/36 Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)
7/36 Nick Schonert (Worcester Warriors)
8/36 Maro Itjoe (Saracens)
9/36 Charlie Ewels (Bath)
10/36
11/36 George Kruis (Saracens)
12/36 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
13/36 Brad Shields (Wasps)
14/36 Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons)
15/36 Michael Rhodes (Saracens)
16/36 Tom Curry (Sale Sharks)
17/36 Sam Underhill (Bath)
18/36 Zach Mercer (Bath)
19/36 Ben Morgan (Gloucester)
20/36 Ted Hill (Worcester Warriors)
21/36 Danny Care (Harlequins)
22/36 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
23/36 Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens)
24/36 Owen Farrell (Saracens)
25/36 George Ford (Leicester Tigers)
26/36 Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers)
27/36 Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
28/36 Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors)
29/36 Alex Lozowski (Saracens)
30/36 Nathan Earle (Harlequins)
31/36 Elliot Daly (Wasps)
32/36 Jonny May (Leicester Tigers)
33/36 Chris Ashton (Saracens)
34/36 Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)
35/36 Joe Cokanasiga (Bath)
36/36 Mike Brown (Harlequins)
“It’s just a small strain and he’ll back training with us on Sunday.
“He’d put a good run in with his club, but he’s buoyed by the fact that he’ll be back in to prepare for New Zealand next weekend.”
Tuilagi has made just one appearance in more than four years, with a string of serious injuries keeping him out of action since the summer tour of New Zealand in 2014 bar a brief replacement appearance against Wales in the 2016 Six Nations.
“Manu seems fine, but with his history, it’s probably not one to risk,” added co-captain Owen Farrell, who starts at fly-half on Saturday for only the third time under Eddie Jones.
“I’m sure he will be back in the next couple of weeks. I think we are well enough equipped.”
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