Smith injury worry a concern for England
England’s launch of their brave new era may have to be delayed after Marcus Smith emerged as one of several injury concerns for Saturday’s Autumn Nations Series opener against Tonga.
Smith, the electric playmaker around whom Eddie Jones’ revolution is to be built, and full-back Freddie Steward are doubts for the Twickenham showdown after receiving treatment for unspecified leg problems. More definitive is the news over this season’s leading Gallagher Premiershiptry-scorerMaxMalinsand scrum-half Raffi Quirke, with thepairruledoutbyrespective calf and knee issues.
And England’s band of exciting young backs have seen their ranks thinned further after Louis Lynagh became unavailable just two days after arriving into camp as injury cover for Malins.
Eddie Jones revealed that Lynagh was “a bit beaten up” after Harlequins’ defeat by Saracens. A day of grim injury developments comes after Harry Randall withdrew from the squad because of a troublesome hip flexor, making the loss of Quirke even more significant.
Jones dismissed the high number of injuries as “all part and parcel of preparing an international team”, but he will befrustratedtheyhaveallbeen incurred by the exciting rookies who it is hoped will evolve England’s attacking game as building for the World Cup ramps up.
“Marcus hasn’t done much training this week, just a bit of ball handling,” said Jones, who has chosen not to bring in George Ford as emergency fly-half cover. We are keen for himtobeinvolvedinthegame. If we don’t get to see him this week, we will get to see him next week.”