"We're all good. Everyone's trained today, we had a big session and everyone's pulled through. So we're in a good spot. Manu adds a lot so it gives you another dimension to potentially play off. It's great having him back in the mix for selection" - England coach Martin Gleeson
Tuesday 22 February 2022 19:14, UK
Manu Tuilagi and Courtney Lawes have both trained fully and been retained in a 25-man England squad for Saturday's Six Nations clash against Wales.
Speaking to media on Tuesday, attack coach Martin Gleeson said centre Tuilagi and lock/flanker Lawes - both key performers for Eddie Jones' side - have recovered from hamstring and concussions concerns respectively to return to full training.
England face Wales at Twickenham in Round 3 of the Six Nations on Saturday in a must-win clash, with both nations having lost one and won one in the championship this year so far.
Lock Joe Launchbury and centre Joe Marchant are among the players released by Jones with Tuilagi now looking in line to take Marchant's place alongside Henry Slade.
"We're all good. Everyone's trained today, we had a big session and everyone's pulled through fine. So we're in a good spot," Gleeson said.
"Manu adds a lot. His physical presence, his footwork, his leg speed, and just the things he can do, not many other people can, so it gives you another dimension to potentially play off.
"It's great having him back in the mix for selection.
"He's [Lawes] been brilliant. He started back training a little while ago and he's been ramping it up slowly and he was back out there today doing what he does, leading by example which was great to see."
Tuilagi has not played since suffering a hamstring injury scoring a try vs South Africa in November, and in his and skipper Owen Farrell's absence, England's centre pairings have been Slade and Elliot Daly in the defeat against Scotland, and Slade with Joe Marchant in the victory over Italy.
Slade and Tuilagi have partnered each other to great effect previously, in particular against Ireland and France in 2019, and against Australia in the quarter-finals of the 2019 World Cup.
Gleeson says the prospect of the pair lining up together against Wales in midfield is an exciting one, while adding the squad and coaches are treating Saturday's Test like a World Cup quarter-final.
"It just gives us that little bit of flexibility as to what we can do," Gleeson said.
"Sladey and Manu played really well in the autumn together, and have done previously, and if both are selected this week, I'm sure they will continue to do so.
"It's a massive game for us. First game back at Twickenham in the Six Nations this year, and first time crowds have been back for a Six Nations game for a couple of years.
"We're treating it like a quarter-final this week."
Gleeson confirmed wing Jack Nowell (concussion) and back-row Sam Simmonds (hip) also trained fully too.
England No 8 Alex Dombrandt believes his attacking mindset and on-field understanding with fly-half Marcus Smith could lift the side in the crucial Six Nations Championship clash with Wales at Twickenham on Saturday.
Dombrandt was a stand-out performer in the 33-0 win over Italy 10 days ago and his link-up play with Harlequins team- mate Smith provided plenty of attacking impetus for coach Eddie Jones' side.
It is not clear if he will retain his place for the must-win meeting with Wales, who Dombrandt represented at U20 level, but he is working hard on his "all-court" game.
"My work off the ball is just as important as my work on it, but the more times I can get my hands on it the better to impose myself on the game," he said on Tuesday.
"I try to put myself in positions where I can get the ball. I put myself forward and then try to find those little pockets off Marcus.
"We are great friends off the pitch and that translates into what we do on it. We understand each others games well.
"I'm an attack-minded player, but at this level you need an all-court game. Your defence needs to be up there. I have been working hard on that aspect of my game."
Dombrandt puts his all-action style as a loose-forward down to his younger years, when he played in the backline.
"When I was 12 or 13 I played a bit of full-back and fly-half, I think that helped a bit with my ball-handling skills," he said.
He could come up against the vastly experienced back rower Taulupe Faletau, who has been recalled to the Wales squad after a seven-month injury layoff.
"If selected it will be a great test to be go against him for sure," Dombrandt said. "He is very good in defence and in attack, I have watched him play and picked up a few things from him."
