England are “pretty optimistic” fly-half Fin Smith will be fit to face Australia in the Nations Championship on Sunday after coming through a key training session.
Smith trained alongside his international team-mates for the first time since injuring his calf in Northampton’s Premiership defeat to Leicester on October 24.
Assistant coach Richard Wigglesworth gave the update to Sky Sports News as he also expressed his “disappointment” for scrum-half Alex Mitchell, who will miss the autumn internationals following a fourth hamstring injury of the year.
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Wigglesworth said of Smith: “Fin got through training today so we are pretty optimistic he will be fit for selection. He is a quality player, a starting fly-half in the last few Tests.
“We’ve got to get through the next 24 hours first, so selection’s not been confirmed but there’s a chance.
“We’re blessed with George Ford and Marcus Smith so if there’s any doubt, any risk, then we know we’ve got quality options there.
“They are different in how they play the game so we’ll see which one suits us best.”
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On Mitchell’s latest injury setback, Wigglesworth added: “It’s something that everyone needs to get to the bottom of because we want him fit and available.”
After the clash with Australia, England go on to play Japan and New Zealand, also at Twickenham, on November 14 and November 21 respectively, before the Nations Championship finals weekend across November 27-29.
The games mark England’s last against Southern Hemisphere teams before the World Cup in Australia in October and November 2027.
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Wigglesworth said: “[The Australia game] will set the tone.
“It feels big because it’s England-Australia at Twickenham, so if it doesn’t feel big, we’re in the wrong occupation. But when it’s big, it’s exciting.
“It’s a really important [few weeks]. The more time in the saddle you get together, the better you know each other.”
England welcomed British sprinter Amy Hunt, who won four gold medals at the 2026 European Championships in Birmingham, to training, but there were no challenges laid down.
Wigglesworth said: “We decided not to race any of the lads. One, because she’d smoke them and two, fear of injury.”
England’s Nations Championship fixtures in November
All times UK
- November 8: England vs Australia (3.10pm)
- November 14: England vs Japan (4.40pm)
- November 21: England vs New Zealand (2.10pm)
- November 27-29: Finals weekend (fixtures to be confirmed)