The only two sides to have won twice in this season’s RBS 6 Nations meet at Twickenham next Saturday with head coach Lancaster faced with a welcome selection headache.

After defeating Scotland and Italy in their opening two games, the Red Rose squad has been bolstered by the returns from injury of Tuilagi, fly-half Toby Flood and lock Courtney Lawes.

All three would likely have started against Scotland had they been fit but in their absence Saracens centre Brad Barritt and club-mates Charlie Hodgson at No.10 and lock Mouritz Botha have allimpressed.

And while Lancaster has no fear of change he admits his returning World Cup veterans may be forced to wait a while longer.

“There are now options coming back into the equation who previously weren’t available, such as Manu,” he said.

“But post-World Cup he has played only three or four games due to a fractured eye-socket and a hamstring injury.

“Change is going though my mind, absolutely. Not wholesale change, perhaps, but there are certainly options available to us that were not previously there.

“There are the three World Cup players, Toby, Manu and Courtney, while there was also an impressive showing from our bench in Rome, notably [scrum-half] Lee Dickson and [No.8] Ben Morgan.

“We want players to be putting their hand up so that there is competitiveness in training. This selection will be an important one to get right.”