England call up Spencer and Randall as injuries hit

Ben Spencer and Harry Randall are named in England's squad for this month's Nations Championship after injury hits Alex Mitchell and Archie McParland. Ben Spencer and Harry Randall have 19 and 14 England caps respectively Ben Spencer and Harry Randall have been named in England's squad for this month's Nations Championship after injury ruled Northampton nines Alex Mitchell and Archie McParland out of Sunday's match with Australia. Mitchell pulled up with a hamstring issue in Saints' win over Gloucester on Saturday, while uncapped prospect McParland, 21, picked up a calf injury in last week's training camp. McParland, who would have toured with England in July but for a severe cut to his leg in the Prem final win over Exeter, could still be in contention for England's matches against Japan and New Zealand on 14 and 21 November respectively.

Mitchell will have a scan on his hamstring on Monday to assess the extent of his injury and subsequent lay-off. The 29-year-old has suffered three previous hamstring injuries already this year. Leicester's Jack van Poortvliet, who started all three of England's summer Tests, seems set to continue as first-choice scrum-half. England are facing a possible change at fly-half, with first-choice Fin Smith struggling with a calf problem and Marcus Smith and George Ford competing to deputise in his possible absence. Elsewhere