Tuesday 21 October 2014 15:59, UK
Stuart Lancaster, the England head coach, is waiting to discover the severity of Manu Tuilagi's injury, with the centre expected to miss their clash with New Zealand.
When he’s on-song in the international game he takes some stopping and fortunately it is only a groin injury and nothing worse.
The world champions are the first of four visitors to Twickenham during November and Lancaster is becoming increasingly hampered by a growing injury list.
Leicester will assess centre Tuilagi on Monday, with initial reports suggesting the groin injury he sustained just 15 minutes into their 25-18 European Rugby Champions Cup victory over Ulster will keep him out for the next three weeks.
It is a recurrence of a groin problem which has kept Tuilagi sidelined in the past and following a rest day on Sunday the Tigers medical staff are eager to discover the extent of the injury.
Lancaster, who has already been stripped of the services of forwards Alex Corbisiero, Mako Vunipola, Tom Youngs and Geoff Parling, will name his initial squad for the four-match series on Wednesday.
Sky Sports pundit Dewi Morris believes the loss of the 23-year-old powerhouse is a significant one for both club and country.
“I think it will have a big impact,” he reflected when speaking to Sky Sports News HQ. “It will also have a big impact on Leicester’s season.
“Tuilagi is one of those players who is a game-breaker and from an England point of view it is a massive blow.
“When he’s on-song in the international game he takes some stopping and fortunately it is only a groin injury and nothing worse.”
Lancaster is set to name a wider training squad which will be reviewed following a second round of European action next weekend.
Should Tuilagi be ruled out for three weeks he would miss the All Blacks clash on November 8 and Lancaster will hope the British and Irish Lion will recover in time to feature in the fixtures against South Africa, Samoa and Australia that follow.
Although an undeniable setback for Lancaster, the national coach has a plethora of talent to experiment with having witnessed explosive starts to the Premiership season from Brad Barritt, Luther Burrell and Kyle Eastmond while England Saxon Henry Slade has also impressed in club colours.
Watch all four of England's autumn international matches live on Sky Sports
