Tuilagi set to miss start of England’s Six Nations campaign with groin injury

Manu Tuilagi faces being ruled out of the start of England’s Six Nations campaign with a groin injury.

Tuilagi pulled up in Sale’s home win against Saracens on 22 December and Alex Sanderson, Sale’s director of rugby, predicted on Thursday that the centre will be out for “five or six weeks” with a grade-three muscle tear. “He’s pulled his groin. He doesn’t need an operation,” Sanderson said. “We think he’s going to be back during the Six Nations, but not for the first week of it.”

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England begin their campaign on 3 February against Italy in Rome and Tuilagi, who has been dogged by injuries since making his debut in 2011, believes he can beat the official prognosis. “Something like five or six weeks, but as always six weeks is the recommended [recovery time],” Sanderson said. “Manu’s saying four.”

Second-placed Sale are Premiership title contenders this season and they travel on Saturday to third‑placed Northampton – the winner of the fixture at a sold-out Franklin’s Gardens will go top of the table. But the Sharks coach said Tuilagi’s desire to play for England remains strong.

“It’s up to England regarding selection,” Sanderson said. “Obviously he was in the frame before that [the injury]. I’ve stated already his intent to want to keep playing international rugby.”

Asked if he believes Tuilagi will stay in a positive frame of mind despite his latest injury setback, Sanderson said: “If anyone will be able to stay in that positive zone, Manu’s the man who can. I saw him this morning and I said: ‘Look, they [the media] are going to ask, what do you want me to say?’ And he said: ‘Just tell them what you want to tell them.’ He trusts me on that front.

“I’m like: ‘What do you want to do? Do you want to play international rugby? Does this affect your motivation?’ And he said: ‘I just want to play. If they [England] pick me, I’m good to go.’ So he’s already future-focused in terms of him getting back and getting on the field.”