England have suffered another injury blow ahead of their Six Nations Championship opener as centre Manu Tuilagi will miss the match due to an ankle injury.

rugbyweek

The news comes shortly after it was revealed that prop Alex Corbisiero will miss the entire Six Nations after he had surgery on his knee.

England head coach Stuart Lancaster called in Sale Sharks prop Henry Thomas as cover for Corbisiero on Sunday.

Lancaster has already lost flankers Calum Clark and Tom Johnson for the whole of the Six Nations while Freddie Burns is expected to miss the first two matches.

The England head coach said that although Tuilagi would miss the Scotland match he is expected to be back in full training by the middle of next week ahead of the game against Ireland.

Lancaster is now expected to name either Gloucester’s Billy Twelvetrees or London Irish’s Jonathan Joseph as Bard Barritt’s centre partner.

In place of Corbisiero Lancaster is expected to bring Harlequins prop Joe Marler back into the starting team.

The big choice for the England head coach this week remains who he will start at flyhalf as England excelled with Owen Farrell at 10 against the All Blacks but he was an injury replacement for Toby Flood.

Lancaster will name his team to face Scotland on Thursday.