Smith gets through his first session
England’s fly-half question is leaning the right way. Fin Smith trained with the squad on Wednesday for the first time since he hurt his calf in Northampton’s Premiership defeat at Leicester on October 24, and assistant coach Richard Wigglesworth says the team is “pretty optimistic” he will be fit for Australia.
Nothing is settled yet. “Fin got through training today so we are pretty optimistic he will be fit for selection,” Wigglesworth told Sky Sports News. “We’ve got to get through the next 24 hours first, so selection’s not been confirmed but there’s a chance.” Smith has started the last few Tests.
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Cover is there, and a scrum-half is not
If Smith falls short, England have options. “We’re blessed with George Ford and Marcus Smith,” Wigglesworth said, noting that the two play the game in different ways, so the pick would depend on which suits the day.
Scrum-half is the bigger problem. Alex Mitchell will miss the whole autumn after a fourth hamstring injury this year, and Wigglesworth said England need to find out why it keeps happening.
Australia at Twickenham on Sunday (kickoff 3.10pm UK time) opens England’s Nations Championship programme, and Wigglesworth thinks it will “set the tone.” Japan on November 14 and New Zealand on November 21 follow, both at Twickenham, before finals weekend on November 27-29. They are England’s last games against southern hemisphere sides before the 2027 World Cup in Australia.
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