Another comeback on hold for Tuilagi

Manu Tuilagi’s latest England comeback has been aborted after the Leicester centre suffered a minor groin strain in training.

Tuilagi has been withdrawn from the bench for today’s autumn series opener against South Africa at Twickenham and he will be replaced by wing Chris Ashton, who narrowly missed the cut for the original matchday 23.

It is the latest misfortune in an injury-ravaged career that has limited the 27-year-old to one replacement appearance since 2014, when he made his most recent start.

After overcoming serious groin, knee and hamstring injuries to string together a series of games for Leicester this season, he was poised to make his international comeback as an impact replacement at Twickenham until his groin tightened up.

“Manu seems in high enough spirits. It’s nothing too serious,” co-captain Owen Farrell said.

“With his history it’s not be risked, but I’m sure he’ll be back in the next couple of weeks.

“There are enough people on the field to have played centre and I can move there if things crop up.”

Tuilagi is expected to return to training in preparation for New Zealand’s visit to Twickenham on November 10.

England scrum coach Neal Hatley insisted he should be ready to face the All Blacks, adding that “if it were a World Cup final then we probably would have kept him in”.

Ashton will win his 40th cap from the bench to end his four-year international exile after falling out of favour with successive England coaches, incurring a series of long-term bans and spending a successful season at Toulon.

Picture: Getty. Manu Tuilagi.