England optimistic Fin Smith will be fit for Australia

Summarised from 2 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 4 Nov, 18:15 · Archive

England fly-half Fin Smith trained with his team-mates on Wednesday for the first time since a calf injury and is expected to play against Australia on Sunday.

England fly-half Fin Smith trained fully with his team-mates on Wednesday for the first time since injuring his calf in Northampton's Premiership defeat by Leicester on 24 October. He came through the session without setbacks. England are increasingly optimistic he will be fit for the Nations Championship opener against Australia at Allianz Stadium on Sunday, with head coach Steve Borthwick to name his team on Friday. This would give Smith two full training sessions before his hoped-for comeback in the first of four Tests this month.

Assistant coach Richard Wigglesworth told Sky Sports News that Smith was 'pretty optimistic' about his chances. 'Fin trained and got through all right so we're cautiously optimistic that he's available for selection,' Wigglesworth said. 'We'll need to see what the next 24 hours are like in terms of his reaction.' Northampton team-mate Tommy Freeman said Smith 'is tracking nicely' and 'doing the right stuff with the physios'.

If Smith fails to get clearance, Test centurion George Ford and Harlequins ringmaster Marcus Smith will compete for the number 10 jersey. Whoever plays the position will partner Jack van Poortvliet at half-back as England cope with the loss of scrum-half Alex Mitchell for the entire Nations Championship. A scan revealed Mitchell's fourth hamstring injury of 2026 requires weeks of rehabilitation, ruling him out of the autumn internationals.

How it is being reported

• England ‘cautiously optimistic’ Fin Smith will be fit to face AustraliaThe Northampton fly-half is making good progress in his recovery from a calf problem.Independent Sport · 4 Nov, 17:45
• England 'pretty optimistic' Smith will be fit to face AustraliaSky Sports · 4 Nov, 17:30
• Smith to undergo fitness test ahead of Australia matchFin Smith faces a pivotal practice session on Wednesday as England's chief playmaker looks to prove his fitness for his side's Nations Championship opener against Australia at Allianz Stadium.Sky Sports · 4 Nov, 06:19
• England handed Fin Smith injury boost with hope he can face AustraliaThe England fly-half suffered a calf injury in Northampton’s defeat by Leicester on 24 OctoberIndependent Sport · 3 Nov, 18:30

In this story: Fin Smith · England · Australia · Leicester · Northampton · George Ford · Marcus Smith · Alex Mitchell

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log