Alex Mitchell out of Nations Championship opener in fresh England injury blow

Scrum-half out of game against Australia on SundayWallabies match followed by New Zealand and JapanThe Northampton scrum-half Alex Mitchell has been ruled out of England’s November opener against Australia on Sunday, with Bristol’s Harry Randall and Bath’s Ben Spencer called into the squad named by the head coach, Steve Borthwick.Mitchell, established as the first-choice No 9 under Borthwick, damaged a hamstring in Northampton’s Prem win against Gloucester on Saturday and will have a scan on Tuesday to determine the extent of the injury. Continue reading…

A hamstring injury has ruled the Northampton scrum-half out of the game against Australia on Sunday, which England will follow by playing New Zealand and Japan The Northampton scrum-half Alex Mitchell has been ruled out of England’s November opener against Australia on Sunday, with Bristol’s Harry Randall and Bath’s Ben Spencer called into the squad named by the head coach, Steve Borthwick. Mitchell, established as the first-choice No 9 under Borthwick, damaged a hamstring in Northampton’s Prem win against Gloucester on Saturday and will have a scan on Tuesday to determine the extent of the injury.

Archie McParland, Mitchell’s uncapped clubmate, is also sidelined for the Wallabies match after sustaining a calf injury training with England last week, following his second call-up to the senior squad. A major scrum-half rethink is consequently needed by Borthwick before a highly significant sequence of four Nations Championship matches. The injury-enforced absence of Mitchell and McParland means either Randall or Spencer will be on the bench against Australia, with Leicester’s Jack van Poortvliet expected to