HIP HIP BOO! OLLIE TO MISS DRAGONS CLASH

Autumn Nations Cup, Saturday, 4pm

OLLIE LAWRENCE will miss England’s Autumn Nations Cup clash with Wales on Saturday.

The Worcester centre (right), who won his second cap in the victory over Ireland, was omitted from the England squad when it was trimmed last night for the trip to Llanelli because of a hip injury.

“Ollie has a little niggle around his abductor and hip area, nothing major but it is a niggle that is concerning him,” said England defence coach John Mitchell.

“Ollie has huge potential as a centre. He is very talented in terms of running on to the ball and has exceptional ability to line break.

“What he is learning are the nuances required at this level, which are things like your effort and ability to stay alive in all situations.”

With George Ford fit again, Owen Farrell is likely to switch to centre to partner Henry Slade at the weekend against opponents England regard as wind-up merchants.

“They have always had a crack at Ben Youngs, at Owen... they went hard at (Kyle) Sinckler a few times. They target people,” said Mitchell. “They look to create individual distractions and take away some of the key components to our ur ways of creating pressure. e. We’re ready for anything.” .”

It was England who did d the winding-up when the sides met at Twickenham in March, with prop Joe Marler banned for 10 weeks for grabbing Alun Wyn Jones’s testicles. Marler is in contention to play his first Test since e that 33-30 win for England having been named in the 25-man squad along with Jack Willis, man of the match for Wasps last weekend.