Eddie in crisis as he loses two more to injury

ENGLAND’S injury crisis deepened last night as it emerged Leicester flanker Mike Williams and Exeter winger Jack Nowell both suffered injuries that threaten their participation in the autumn internationals.

After a week in which Eddie Jones was heavily criticised for the brutal nature of a three-day training camp that left Wasps flanker Sam Jones with a broken leg and Bath winger Anthony Watson a fractured jaw, the head coach had more bad news.

Williams, who had been in line for his debut against South Africa on November 12 with James Haskell (toe), Jack Clifford (ankle) and Jones ruled out, suffered suspected nerve damage to the arm he broke twice last season in the warm up against Worcester.

‘Mike got a whack to his arm and it was sore, so the best thing to do was for him not to play,’ said Leicester director of rugby Richard Cockerill. ‘I’ve no idea [how long he may be out]. He had issues when a metal plate was taken out. We’ll have it scanned. Hopefully, it’s just a bit of nerve irritation and he’ll be fine.’

Nowell, previously a certainty to start on the wing against South Africa, is now a doubt after Exeter boss Rob Baxter confirmed he sustained a ‘significant’ calf injury with England last week.

With Chris Ashton banned for biting and Marland Yarde’s form erratic, Jones now faces a shortage on the wing as well as at No7. Quins prop Joe Marler was also sidelined yesterday with a back problem.