England rugby team news: Manu Tuilagi set to learn fate as Eddie Jones teases Australia

Manu Tuilagi was set to learn this afternoon whether he would be making his Test comeback in England’s clash against Australia on Saturday.

The 27-year-old Leicester centre has played just 17 minutes of international rugby in four-and-a-half years and the decision over whether to name him in the matchday squad was due to be made after England’s training session today.

England coach Eddie Jones announces his team to face Australia tomorrow and he has long stated that Tuilagi must be “100 per cent fit” to be considered for international duty.

On Monday, Jones described Tuilagi as “very doubtful” to feature. Last night, however, Jones retained Tuilagi in a 26-man training squad, effectively declaring him available to play. The only players released were the injured Chris Ashton and Ted Hill.

Ashton’s calf issue, which will keep him out for around a fortnight, means England’s injury count this autumn sits at one player per game. Tom Curry limped off against South Africa and George Kruis against New Zealand.

Tuilagi was set to take a place on the bench in the autumn opener against South Africa but a calf injury ruled him out and has hampered him ever since.

If Tuilagi is part of Saturday’s 23, it would also likely be from the bench but, by constantly changing his message, Jones could merely be playing mind games with his opponents — preparing for England with Tuilagi is a completely different prospect to preparing for England without him.

It is likely England’s starting backline will be the same as the one that faced South Africa, with Jack Nowell on the right wing. Joe Cokanasiga, who made a try-scoring debut against Japan, is fighting for that spot.