Manu Tuilagi

Manu Tuilagi has had numerous partners at centre during his decade-plus involvement at Test level, but he has yet to play alongside Ollie Lawrence.

Both were included in the 33-strong squad named on Monday for next month’s Rugby World Cup in France and Borthwick has suggested the Tuilagi-Lawrence combination is something he would consider as he believes it’s a partnership that could work.

Lawrence has made eight starts in his 11-cap career, seven of those run-on appearances coming with Henry Slade as his midfield partner.

The Sharks director of rugby is poised to present the soon-to-be 32-year-old with a significantly improved contract offer that he hopes will be enough to convince their former marquee salary cap player to stay on in Manchester rather than take up more lucrative offers in France and Japan.

Tuilagi had been a selection favourite under Eddie Jones, Borthwick’s predecessor as head coach, and he started three of the four recent Autumn Nations Series matches, coming off the bench in the other game.

However, having named Tuilagi in the reduced England squad of 29 that was announced on Tuesday evening to continue preparing for the Calcutta Cup fixture, it emerged on Thursday that the centre had been omitted from the match day 23.

The 31-year-old has been regularly linked with a move away from the Manchester club when the 2022/23 campaign comes to a finish – and there was further speculation last weekend that the likely English Six Nations starter next week versus Scotland will quit the Premiership.

The Italian out-half was stretchered off in the 56th minute at The Stoop after his high-ball fumble was followed by Tuilagi clattering into him.

Wayne Barnes decided that the clash was a rugby incident, which allowed Tuilagi to play on without sanction, and the match referee’s decision was backed up by the absence of any subsequent citing for the England midfielder.

Having re-injured a hamstring during the recent Guinness Six Nations, the midfielder returned to action for his club in April and was involved in the international squad’s three-day training camp held by Eddie Jones last month in London. 

The 30-year-old was set to make his first appearance of this year's Championship after recovering from a similar injury.

He was named in the starting line-up earlier on Thursday, but was withdrawn having undergone scans after training.

Joe Marchant has been recalled and will train with the team on Friday.

England have said they will confirm the updated team to face Wales on the day of the match.

Before Tuilagi's injury, it was announced that Harry Randall will start at scrum-half, while fit-again Courtney Lawes was named as captain.

The English host Wales this Saturday in a must-win Guinness Six Nations encounter and their planning has been emboldened by having the services again of Tuilagi, who missed the opening matches versus Scotland and Italy.    

Tuilagi damaged his hamstring when scoring against the Springboks in November and the injury required an eleven-week layoff before he returned to Gallagher Premiership action for Sale. With 80 minutes accumulated from two league appearances, he was called up by England for last week’s fallow week training camp in London. 

 The powerhouse centre has recently recovered from a hamstring injury and is poised for a first Test match appearance since England’s Autumn Nations Series game against world champions South Africa in November.

Wales assistant coach and skills specialist Jenkins worked with Tuilagi on the 2013 British and Irish Lions tour of Australia, and he is fully aware of his threat.

“We need to be mindful of what Manu brings,” Jenkins said.

“He is a very, very good rugby player and very physical. He brings a lot to England when he does play.

Tuilagi is in Eddie Jones' latest 25-player list, while prop Joe Marler has been left out as the team prepares for the game on 26 February.

Potential captain Courtney Lawes will also continue his return to play after concussion.

Number eight Sam Simmonds will not train because of a hip issue and Alfie Barbeary has been called up.

The uncapped Wasps back row is included along with London Irish forward Tom Pearson.

After starts in the opening-round defeat to Scotland and Sunday's victory against Italy, lock Nick Isiekwe is left out of the squad.