England's rugby union team has been struck by a significant triple injury setback just days before their final autumn Test against Argentina at Twickenham.
Injury Crisis Hits England Camp
Ollie Lawrence, Jamie George, and Tom Roebuck have all been ruled out of Sunday's crucial match, dealing a major blow to head coach Steve Borthwick's plans. All three players started in England's impressive 33-19 victory over the All Blacks last weekend, making their absence particularly impactful as the team seeks an 11th consecutive victory.
The most notable replacement comes in the form of 19-year-old uncapped wing Noah Caluori, who has been called into the squad and could make his international debut following Roebuck's withdrawal. Caluori's inclusion represents a significant opportunity for the young Saracens player, who has been on Borthwick's radar for some time.
Positional Reshuffle Required
Lawrence's hamstring injury, sustained in the closing stages of the New Zealand match, represents a particular concern for Borthwick. The centre had formed an effective partnership with Fraser Dingwall and had recently battled back from a long-term achilles problem that caused him to miss the British & Irish Lions tour of Australia.
Potential replacements for Lawrence include Elliot Daly, who could make his first appearance since breaking his arm on the Lions tour, alongside Max Ojomoh and Henry Slade. More unconventional options include Henry Pollock, recently nominated for the world breakthrough player of the year award, and Ben Earl.
Hooker Jamie George also falls victim to a hamstring problem, and despite experiencing lineout difficulties against New Zealand, his experience as former captain will be sorely missed. Luke Cowan-Dickie appears likely to start, with Theo Dan and recalled squad member Jamie Blamire competing for a place in the matchday 23.
Wing Options Tested
Tom Roebuck's absence due to a foot injury further complicates selection matters. The 24-year-old had impressed on the right wing against New Zealand, scoring the late try that secured England's victory. With Tommy Freeman also unavailable, Borthwick's wing resources are suddenly stretched thin.
Henry Arundell, who came off the bench to score a spectacular try against Fiji earlier this month, remains in contention, as does the versatile Elliot Daly. However, Borthwick may opt to hand a debut to the 6ft 4in Caluori, who has earned praise for his aerial ability and scored five tries on his first Premiership start for Saracens last month.
The England head coach had previously indicated his belief in the young winger, stating before the autumn campaign that "I think he could certainly feature this autumn. He has been on the radar for a considerable period of time."
Borthwick has also entertained the possibility of deploying Henry Pollock out of position on the wing, noting that "We've been looking at Henry Pollock on the wing. His pace is the match of a lot of wingers. That kind of versatility is really important to us."
In more positive news for England, fullback Freddie Steward has been cleared to play after passing stages two and three of the head injury assessment protocols following his early departure against the All Blacks.
The selection headaches come as England aim to complete a clean sweep of four November Tests for the first time since Eddie Jones's first autumn in charge back in 2016.
