England's problems mount

Leicester centre Manu Tuilagi looks set to miss England's Six Nations opener against Scotland after picking up a hamstring injury in the Tigers' recent victory against Worcester.

Leicester's director of rugby Richard Cockerill anticipates that the 20-year-old will be sidelined for at least a month so he seems unlikely to feature in the Calcutta Cup clash on 4th February. However, he could play in the following week's match against Italy.

"Manu will be out for four to six weeks," confirmed Cockerill. "It may be a month depending on how his rehab goes."

Meanwhile, England's off-field problems show no sign of disappearing as Danny Care has been told he will be left out of interim coach Stuart Lancaster's Six Nations squad after being arrested for drink-driving.

England's World Cup campaign last year was beset by a series of scandals and Care has done little to improve the team's image after being arrested in the early hours of New Year's Day, three weeks after he had been fined by police for being drunk and disorderly. People following the best 6 Nations odds should remember this.

The Harlequins scrum-half will plead guilty when he appears in court on 16th January.

Lancaster confirmed: "I've met Danny and told him that he'll not be considered for selection. This is his second arrest in three weeks for alcohol-related offences and it is completely unacceptable.”

Lancaster is due to name his Six Nations squad on 11th January 11.Care missed the World Cup with a foot injury but seemed certain to feature in the Six Nations after producing some fine recent performances for Harlequins.

Quins have fined Care for his latest indiscretion and he will be required to work on their inner-city coaching programme until the end of pre-season 2012-13.