Autumn international casualty list is 39 ... and counting

THE avalanche of Autumn Tests start next week with almost 40 players absent from the starting grid, the vast majority because of all manner of injury. No wonder clubs say their players are being battered as never before. THE FULL LIST: Full-backs (4): Rob Kearney (Ire, hamstring), Jared Payne (Ire, headaches), Israel Folau (Aus, sabbatical), Ben Smith (NZ, concussion) Wings (9): George North (Wal, knee), Johnny May (Eng, hamstring), Jack Nowell (Eng, cheekbone), Nehe Milner-Skudder (NZ, shoulder), Israel Dagg (NZ, knee), Jordie Barrett (NZ, shoulder), Sefa Naivalu (Aus, shoulder), Ruan Combrinck (SA, broken leg), Virimi Vakatawa (Fra, suspension) Centres (5): Garry Ringrose (Ire, shoulder), Ben Te’o (Eng, ankle), Manu Tuilagi (Eng, knee), Wesley Fofana (Fra, Achilles), Elliott Daly (Eng, knee). Fly-halves (2): Camille Lopez (Fra, ankle), Gareth Anscombe (Wal, groin). Scrum-half (1): Greig Laidlaw (Scotland, broken leg). Front row (4): Frans Malherbe (SA, neck), Connie Oostuizen (SA, arm), Joe Moody (NZ, shoulder), Owen Franks (NZ, Achilles) Second row (3): Brodie Retallick (NZ, personal), Izack Rodda (Aus, shoulder), Roy Arnold (Aus, knee). Back row (11): Sam Warburton (Wal, neck), Billy Vunipola (Eng, knee), Jack Dempsey (Aus, hamstring), Lukhan Tui (Aus, hamstring), Jack Clifford (Eng, dislocated shoulder), Dan Baker (Wal, knee), Jamie Heaslip (Ire, back), Jean-Luc du Preez (SA, ankle), Jaco Kriel (SA, shoulder), Yacouba Camara (Fra, ankle), Loann Goujoun (Fra, knee).