England centre Manu Tuilagi has been ruled out of Saturday’s Six Nations clash at home to Wales after picking up a hamstring injury in training, the RFU said on Thursday.
Tuilagi had been included in coach Eddie Jones’s line-up for the match, with the 30-year-old returning after the latest of his long run of injuries.
“It was confirmed after a scan on Thursday afternoon, following training, that Tuilagi has suffered a low grade hamstring injury,” the team said in a statement, adding that Joe Marchant has been recalled and will train with the squad.
Tuilagi made his debut in 2011 but has missed 79 matches since then, including 50 of the 71 since Jones took over after the 2015 World Cup.
The powerful centre’s absence will be a huge blow to the team, who will miss the firepower he brings to the midfield.
England are second in the Six Nations standings on six points after two matches, three points behind leaders France.
The RFU said Jones will name an updated team on the day of the match.
Before Tuilagi’s injury, Courtney Lawes was set to captain the side at blindside flanker after missing the opening two games with concussion, while Harry Randall was handed another chance to impress at scrum-half.
Maro Itoje and Charlie Ewels were named as locks, Tom Curry was to stay at open-side flanker and Alex Dombrandt was named No. 8. Luke Cowan-Dickie was to start at hooker with Kyle Sinckler set to win his 50th cap at prop.
Max Malins and Jack Nowell were named as wingers, with Freddie Steward at full-back. Randall, who looked lively for 55 minutes in the win over Italy, will was set to win his fourth cap, while replacement Ben Youngs will become England’s most-capped player with 115 if he gets on.
Wales will give No. 8 Taulupe Faletau his first taste of test rugby in seven months but wing Louis Rees-Zammit has been dropped from the match-day squad.
Faletau has played just two club games since injuring his ankle on the British & Irish Lions tour of South Africa last year but has been drafted in to start by coach Wayne Pivac in a back-row that also includes Ross Moriarty, who switches to the blindside flank, and Taine Basham.
“He has trained well during the week and got 80 minutes last week. From our point of view he brings a lot of experience so we’re very excited to have Toby [Faletau] back,” Pivac said in a statement from Welsh Rugby on Thursday.
The return of winger Josh Adams and the form of a rejuvenated Alex Cuthbert, winning his 50th cap on Saturday, means there is no room in the side — or the squad — for Rees-Zammit in a surprise omission.
“It is also great to have Josh Adams back from injury. That means Louis Rees-Zammit is the unfortunate one this week that misses out,” Pivac said.
“But we have looked at the opposition we’re playing and niggly injuries that players pick up from time to time, and we think that in this particular match, the way the game will go, that Alex and Josh are the right selection.”
The rest of the side is as expected, with fly-half Dan Biggar facing an intriguing battle with opposite number Smith in the England camp.
He will be alongside scrum-half Tomos Williams, with a midfield partnership of Nick Tompkins and Owen Watkin.
The front-row of the scrum features hooker Ryan Elias and either side of him are props Wyn Jones and Tomas Francis, while Will Rowlands and Adam Beard are the lock pairing.
Fly-half Gareth Anscombe and experienced centre Jonathan Davies are among the replacements.
England XV
Freddie Steward, Max Malins, Henry Slade, Jack Nowell, Marcus Smith, Harry Randall, Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Kyle Sinckler, Charlie Ewels, Maro Itoje, Courtney Lawes, Tom Curry, Alex Dombrandt
Replacements: Jamie George, Joe Marler, Will Stuart, Nick Isiekwe, Sam Simmonds, Ben Youngs, George Ford, Elliot Daly, Joe Marchant
Liam Williams, Alex Cuthbert, Owen Watkin, Nick Tompkins, Josh Adams, Dan Biggar, Tomos Williams, Wyn Jones, Ryan Elias, Tomas Francis, Will Rowlands, Adam Beard, Ross Moriarty, Taine Basham, Taulupe Faletau
Replacements: Dewi Lake, Gareth Thomas, Leon Brown, Seb Davies, Jac Morgan, Kieran Hardy, Gareth Anscombe, Jonathan Davies.
Wales XV
Liam Williams, Alex Cuthbert, Owen Watkin, Nick Tompkins, Josh Adams, Dan Biggar, Tomos Williams, Wyn Jones, Ryan Elias, Tomas Francis, Will Rowlands, Adam Beard, Ross Moriarty, Taine Basham, Taulupe Faletau.
Replacements: Dewi Lake, Gareth Thomas, Leon Brown, Seb Davies, Jac Morgan, Kieran Hardy, Gareth Anscombe, Jonathan Davies.