Photograph: David Rogers/Getty Images

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

England’s November Nations Championship campaign faces an early setback after Northampton’s Alex Mitchell was forced out of Sunday’s opening match against Australia. The scrum-half, a key figure under head coach Steve Borthwick, suffered a hamstring strain during Northampton’s Premiership victory over Gloucester on Saturday and will undergo further medical assessment on Tuesday.

His absence leaves England’s backline reshuffled, with Harry Randall of Bristol and Bath’s Ben Spencer named as replacements in the squad for the Wallabies clash. Mitchell’s injury adds to the pressure on the newly selected players as England prepare to follow up the Australia game with fixtures against New Zealand and Japan later in the tournament.

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