England head coach Steve Borthwick’s backline plans for the upcoming Nations Championship opener appear to be back on track, with assistant Richard Wigglesworth declaring the squad “pretty optimistic” that fly-half Fin Smith will be fit to face Australia this Sunday. Smith completed his first full training session with the national team since suffering a calf injury during Northampton Saints’ Premiership defeat to Leicester on October 24, a significant milestone that suggests he is progressing well enough to feature in a high-stakes international fixture.
Fly-half returns to full training as Wigglesworth confirms Mitchell’s autumn exit
The return of Smith is crucial for England’s attacking structure as they prepare for a campaign that Wigglesworth admits will “set the tone” for the remainder of their autumn fixtures. While the fly-half’s availability is a major boost, the news cycle was tempered by the confirmation that scrum-half Alex Mitchell will miss the entire autumn international window. Wigglesworth expressed his “disappointment” regarding Mitchell’s absence, which stems from a fourth hamstring injury of the year, forcing England to rely on their remaining options in the engine room against a formidable Australian side.
Beyond the injury updates, the training camp has seen a notable influx of support, with British sprinter Amy Hunt visiting the session to engage with the squad. Her presence highlights the ongoing collaboration between different sports disciplines in the UK, focusing on speed and agility development. As England looks to secure a strong start to their Nations Championship campaign, the combination of Smith’s potential return and the strategic adjustments required for Mitchell’s absence will be the defining factors in their preparation for Sunday’s showdown.
Source: Sky Sports
