More woe for Jones as Kruis joins crocks

ENGLAND’S quest to fill their No 7 void has taken another unwelcome twist after George Kruis was ruled out of the start of the autumn series with an ankle injury.

The 26-year- old had surgery yesterday, complicating head coach Eddie Jones’ plan to switch fellow Saracens lock Maro Itoje to the back-row for the curtain raiser against South Africa on November 12.

With openside flankers James Haskell, Jack Clifford, Sam Jones, Sam Underhill and Mike Williams sidelined, Jones is already missing key firepower in the pack.

To accommodate, Jones could be forced to restore the previous second-row combination of Courtney Lawes and Joe Launchbury, who have started just once together in two years.

Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall said: ‘After consultation with George and England we are all in agreement that it’s in the best interests of the player to undergo this minor procedure now, with the majority of the season still ahead of us. George is on the road to recovery and we look forward to his return to action sooner rather than later.’

Wings Anthony Watson and Jack Nowell, centre Manu Tuilagi and hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie are also missing, but Jones has been boosted by the timely return to action of captain Dylan Hartley.

After a six-week recovery from a back injury, the hooker returns for Northampton in today’s Champions Cup fixture against Castres.