England’s rugby squad has been dealt a significant blow ahead of Sunday’s autumn international finale against Argentina at Allianz Stadium, with Jamie George, Ollie Lawrence, and Tom Roebuck all ruled out due to injury.
Head coach Steve Borthwick is now counting the cost of a bruising 33-19 victory over New Zealand, which saw all three starters sustain injuries that will prevent them from facing the Pumas.
Hooker George and centre Lawrence are both nursing hamstring issues, while wing Roebuck has a foot problem.
These fresh setbacks compound existing injury concerns, with lock Ollie Chessum and wing Tommy Freeman already sidelined with foot and hamstring damage respectively.
This has significantly dwindled England’s selection options as they aim for an eleventh consecutive win.
In response, teenage sensation Noah Caluori has been drafted into Borthwick’s training squad as wing cover, while the forwards have been bolstered by the addition of hooker Jamie Blamire and lock Charlie Ewels.
There was some positive news, however, as full-back Freddie Steward has been cleared to play after a mouthguard alert during the New Zealand game indicated a possible concussion. Steward passed the decisive second and third head injury assessments after initially failing the first.
George’s absence opens up an opportunity for Theo Dan to make his first appearance of the autumn, with Luke Cowan-Dickie also a frontline hooker option, having previously featured as part of the ‘bomb squad’ from the bench.
While losing Lawrence, following his blockbusting display against New Zealand, is a blow, the timely return to fitness of Elliot Daly, who has recovered from a broken forearm, provides an elite replacement.
Henry Arundell and Cadan Murley are expected to compete for the wing spot vacated by Roebuck, with the Argentina clash likely coming too soon for 19-year-old Caluori to make his Test debut.
Borthwick is scheduled to name his team on Friday, though an earlier announcement on Wednesday remains a possibility.
