England duo injured in narrow Gloucester win

Jonny May is a major doubt for England’s autumn series after suffering a suspected dislocated elbow in Gloucester’s 22-21 Gallagher Premiership victory over London Irish.

And in another worrying development for Eddie Jones, teenage sensation Henry Arundell hobbled off with strapping on his right foot to jeopardise his involvement in England’s opener against Argentina on November 6.

Wing Ben Loader had an unwitting role in both injuries, first by colliding with Exiles team-mate Arundell as the pair covered the backfield in response to a Louis Rees-Zammit chip and chase.

The 19-year-old Arundell, starting Irish’s first Friday night match at Gtech Community Stadium at full-back, soldiered on for what seemed longer than was necessary but eventually departed in the 19th minute in clear discomfort.

Seven minutes later and he was joined in the stands by May, who tangled with Loader as they competed in the air for a kick and fell awkwardly.

Immediately sensing the injury was serious, he kept his left arm flat on the floor and called for medics before climbing to his feet several minutes later and leaving the field with the damage protected by a large brace.

Only on Monday when naming his squad for the autumn Jones hailed May’s “return to form” having battled back from a knee injury and the dose of Covid that prevented him from playing against Australia in July.

England’s second highest men’s try-scorer of all time was poised to return to the wing for the Tests against Argentina, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa but another significant spell in the treatment rooms now appears likely.

If Arundell joins him, Jones will lose another important back-three option who was set to provide gamebreaking ability off the bench.

While England were working out the injury repercussions, Irish and Gloucester were battling a full-blooded clash that was decided when visiting fly-half Adam Hastings landed a stunning drop-goal from inside his own half with 19 minutes to go.

It was the first time all night they had taken the lead as from the moment Agustin Creevy capitalised on their absent maul defence in the second minute, they were playing catch-up.

Arundell was treated by the physio after making contact with Loader and it was in the moments after he departed that Gloucester hit back.

Inside centre Giorgi Kveseladze sucked in defenders with a hard carry but it was Hastings’ delayed pass that created the opportunity that ended with Santiago Socino sliding over.

An eventful first half took its most drastic turn yet when May departed following his tangle with Loader, who compounded the England wing’s misery by not only winning the jumping contest but also touching down.

Ruan Ackermann rounded off strong work from Gloucester’s pack but once Paddy Jackson had rifled over a penalty there was no further score for 17 minutes.

Jackson nudged Irish 21-12 ahead with half an hour remaining but a Gloucester maul finished by Socino blew the match wide open.

Hastings landed his long-range drop-goal that defied expectations by wobbling between the posts and despite a late fightback from Irish, the visitors closed out the narrowest of wins.