England battle injury crisis ahead of Australia clash

Summarised from 2 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 3 Nov, 21:20 · Archive

England's halfback Alex Mitchell will miss the Nations Championship with a hamstring injury sustained playing for Northampton.

England are dealing with significant injuries to key positions ahead of Sunday's Nations Championship opener against Australia at Twickenham. Halfback Alex Mitchell will miss all four of England's remaining games in the tournament after sustaining a hamstring injury playing for Northampton on Saturday. The 29-year-old has now suffered four hamstring injuries this year. Halfback Archie McParland has also been ruled out after a calf issue sustained during England's training camp.

Fly-half Fin Smith, England's first-choice playmaker, is in a race against time to prove his fitness for Sunday's match. He picked up a calf strain just over a week ago and will be tested in a Wednesday training session at Pennyhill Park. If Smith cannot demonstrate he is fit, George Ford or Marcus Smith will replace him. Head coach Steve Borthwick has called up Ben Spencer and Harry Randall to fill the halfback vacancies, with both competing to support Jack van Poortvliet at No.9.

Tommy Freeman, another Northampton player, sounded an encouraging note on Tuesday, saying 'Fin is really good and he's tracking nicely'. Freeman himself is expected to feature on the wing. Players Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Seb Atkinson have been promoted into the squad after proving their fitness from hamstring and knee injuries respectively. After Australia, England will face Japan and New Zealand in successive weeks before the Nations Championship finals weekend on 27–29 November.

England battle injury crisis ahead of Australia clash — Image: Perth Now

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How it is being reported

England reel from injury loss as Wallabies loomAlex Mitchell, England's Lions halfback will miss the Nations Championship with an injury that rules him out of the opener at Twickenham against Australia.Perth Now · 3 Nov, 20:49
England reel from injury loss as Wallabies loomAlex Mitchell, England's Lions halfback will miss the Nations Championship with an injury that rules him out of the opener at Twickenham against Australia.The West Australian · 3 Nov, 20:49
England facing injury crisis for Australia showdownAustralia will face an England side scrabbling around for players to fill the key roles behind the pack in Sunday's Nations Championship tie at Twickenham.The West Australian · 2 Nov, 17:41
England facing injury crisis for Australia showdownAustralia will face an England side scrabbling around for players to fill the key roles behind the pack in Sunday's Nations Championship tie at Twickenham.Perth Now · 2 Nov, 17:41

In this story: England · Australia · Alex Mitchell · Fin Smith · Steve Borthwick · Jack van Poortvliet · Twickenham · Northampton

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