England's Manu Tuilagi to miss Scotland Six Nations match

Centre Manu Tuilagi is out of England's opening Six Nations match against Scotland on Saturday because of an ankle injury.

Head coach Stuart Lancaster said he was confident Tuilagi would be in full training next Tuesday or Wednesday and available for the game against Ireland.

Prop Alex Corbisiero will miss the whole Six Nations after undergoing an operation on his knee. 

Sale's Henry Thomas has been brought into the squad as cover.

England's casualty list

Calum Clark (flanker) - out of whole Six Nations

Tom Johnson (flanker) - out of whole Six Nations

Alex Corbisiero (prop) - out of whole Six Nations

Freddie Burns (fly-half) - will miss first two games

Manu Tuilagi (centre) - out for Scotland game at least

As expected, fly-half Freddie Burns has returned to his club Gloucester for treatment on his knee and will miss at least the first two matches.

Flankers Tom Johnson (knee) and Calum Clark (shoulder) had already been ruled out of the tournament.

Lancaster will name his team for the Calcutta Cup match on Thursday.

Tuilagi's absence means Lancaster will have to find a new partner for Brad Barritt of Saracens, with Gloucester's Billy Twelvetrees and Jonathan Joseph of London Irish the other centres in the squad.

In Corbisiero's absence, Harlequins loose-head Joe Marler is likely to regain the starting role he relinquished to the London Irish player in the autumn, with Saracens' Mako Vunipola the other alternative in the elite squad.

Burns, who made an impressive debut as a replacement against the All Blacks, will also have to put his Six Nations ambitions on hold for the time being, leaving the fly-half spot a straight choice between Owen Farrell and Toby Flood.

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