England forced into squad changes amid scrum-half injury crisis

England head coach Steve Borthwick has called up Bath captain Ben Spencer and Bristol’s Harry Randall for the Nations Championship after being forced into making two changes at scrum-half.

Both were excluded from his last training squad but with Northampton pair, Alex Mitchell and Archie McParland, currently sidelined and officially out of contention for Sunday’s match against Australia, Borthwick has had to change his plans.

Mitchell picked up a hamstring injury during Saints’ win over Gloucester at the weekend and will undergo a scan to determine the level of damage, while McParland missed that match because of the calf injury he suffered in England training.

In total, there are five changes to the training squad, one in the forwards and two more in the backs.

Max Ojomoh’s back-and-forth between club and country continues as he makes way for fit-again centre Seb Atkinson, while Immanuel Feyi-Waboso returns at the expense of Noah Caluori on the wing.

Upfront, Kepueli Tuipulotu’s knee injury has led to a reprieve for Saracens’ Theo Dan.

The squad, comprising 20 forwards and 16 backs, has assembled at England’s Performance Centre at Pennyhill Park this Monday evening in preparation for the run of November fixtures.

Following the Australia match, England will face Japan and New Zealand at Allianz Stadium in Rounds 5 and 6, before Finals Weekend from Friday 27 to Sunday 29 November.

“We’re looking forward to getting back to Allianz Stadium for four important Test matches against top-level opposition,” said Borthwick.

“These fixtures take on added significance this Autumn as they represent our final opportunity to face Southern Hemisphere opposition before next year’s Rugby World Cup.

“Facing Australia next Sunday is an exciting challenge. They have played a significant amount of Test rugby in recent months, and we know the quality and experience they will bring.”

England’s Nations Championship squad:

Forwards:
Fin Baxter (Harlequins)
Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers)
Arthur Clark (Gloucester Rugby)
Alex Coles (Northampton Saints)
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks)
Ben Curry (Sale Sharks)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks)
Theo Dan (Saracens)
Ben Earl (Saracens)
Greg Fisilau (Exeter Chiefs)
Jamie George (Saracens)
Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears)
Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers)
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
Emmanuel Iyogun (Northampton Saints)
George Martin (Saracens)
Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale Sharks)
Tom Pearson (Northampton Saints)
Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints)
Will Stuart (Bath Rugby)

Backs:
Seb Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby)
Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints)
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs)
George Ford (Sale Sharks)
Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints)
George Furbank (Harlequins)
Will Joseph (Gloucester Rugby)
Joe Marchant (Sale Sharks)
Cadan Murley (Harlequins)
Harry Randall (Bristol Bears)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
Fin Smith (Northampton Saints)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers)