England head coach Steve Borthwick says Manu Tuilagi’s response to being axed from Six Nations squad ‘shows a man of great character’

Steve Borthwick shook Manu Tuilagi by nan manus and told him his England profession was not complete aft dropping him for tomorrow’s Six Nations opener against Scotland.

Despite a raft of injuries astatine centre Tuilagi, a seasoned of 50 caps and – fittingness permitting – a regular for overmuch of nan past decade, was not moreover named successful nan 23-man squad arsenic Borthwick laid down an emphatic marker pinch his maiden side.

Joe Marchant takes nan 31-year-old’s spot successful nan England XV, pinch Marcus Smith and skipper Owen Farrell resuming their playmaking axis for nan Calcutta Cup conflict astatine Twickenham.

Wing Ollie Hassell-Collins wins his first headdress successful a backline rejigged pursuing injuries to Elliot Daly, Henry Slade and Dan Kelly. Ben Curry gets a 2nd chance aft his debut successful an underwhelming triumph complete nan United States successful 2021.

Lewis Ludlam joins Curry astatine flanker, pinch Alex Dombrandt astatine number eight, while Jamie George starts astatine hooker aft recovering from a concussion.

But it was Tuilagi’s omission which provided nan impervious of a caller dawn for England pursuing nan extremity of Eddie Jones’ tenure successful December.

Quizzed astir nan centre’s nonaccomplishment to make it into his match-day squad, Borthwick said: ‘I americium picking nan squad for this week and location is 
competition for places.

‘There should ever beryllium bully players not successful nan 23 because that is what we want pinch England.

‘This is nan action for this game, against a circumstantial opponent, and adjacent week is simply a caller week.’

Asked really Tuilagi reacted, he added: ‘Manu was nan unthinkable master that he is. We shook hands and past he went and trained really hard. That guidance is grounds to him and his character.’

A bid of injuries whitethorn person contributed to nan revival of nan Smith-Farrell operation that efficaciously spelled nan extremity for Jones.

But a bullish Borthwick added: ‘It is nan correct operation for this game. Joe Marchant astatine 13 useful really good pinch Marcus.’

MORE : When does nan Six Nations start? TV channel, fixtures and kick-off times

MORE : England’s Jamie George is connected way to play against Scotland pursuing concussion

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