England face an damage disaster with half-backs Alex Mitchell and George Ford each doubts for subsequent month’s Autumn internationals

England head coach Steve Borthwick is sweating on the health of first-choice half-backs Alex Mitchell and George Ford for his workforce’s 4 crunch November fixtures.

Scrum-half Mitchell has missed each of Northampton’s two opening Gallagher Premiership matches as a consequence of a neck damage. Saints director of rugby Phil Dowson stated on Tuesday he was unable to substantiate a date for Mitchell’s return and that it was ‘up within the air’ as to when he might be again on the sector.

Sale No 10 Ford, in the meantime, limped off in his workforce’s defeat by Saracens and is awaiting scan outcomes on a quadriceps tear. Each gamers should now be thought of autumn doubts.

Dowson stated of Mitchell: ‘He’s had scans, some therapy, and we’re simply ready to see if that therapy is enough to get him going once more.

‘I genuinely don’t have a timeline – it could possibly be something. It’s up within the air. He’s feeling a bit higher on the again of a while off.

Alex Mitchell has but to begin a recreation this season as he continues to get well from a neck damage

‘He’s additionally pissed off as a result of there isn’t any timeline. What you don’t wish to do is fiddle with it. We’re making an attempt to be fairly conservative with it.’

Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson stated of Ford: ‘He’s pulled a muscle in his quad and we don’t know the size of time that can take to rehab at this level. 

‘I don’t suppose he might have performed on. He walked off and he hobbled round a bit. The preliminary report from the scan is that it’s a tear, so it was positively the proper resolution to convey him off on the time.’

Ford missed England’s summer time tour matches with Japan and New Zealand with an Achilles drawback. Borthwick’s nationwide facet face New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Japan on 4 consecutive November weekends. 

If Mitchell and Ford should not match by the point of the assembly with the All Blacks on November 2, then Tub captain Ben Spencer can be in pole place to begin at scrum-half. Marcus Smith or Fin Smith can be the No 10 choices.

Sanderson additionally stated on Tuesday, Sale and England flanker Tom Curry is struggling to return to full health from a head damage.

In the meantime George Ford hobbled off in Sale’s defeat by Saracens and is awaiting scan outcomes on a quadriceps tear

Leicester’s new head coach Michael Cheika appeared earlier than an RFU disciplinary panel on Tuesday charged with conduct prejudicial to the pursuits of the sport.

Australian Cheika is alleged to have disrespected the unbiased match day physician following his workforce’s win over Exeter at Sandy Park on the opening week of the season.

If discovered responsible, Cheika is ready to face a ban.