Chiefs duo in England squad

By Mark Stevens

Exeter Chiefs duo Jack Nowell and Henry Slade have both been included in the England squad for the upcoming QBE Autumn internationals.

Stuart Lancaster’s side kick-off their campaign this Saturday at Twickenham against world champions New Zealand, before tackling South Africa on November 15, Samoa (Nov 22) and Australia (Nov 29).

Cornishman Nowell is no stranger to the England fold having won five caps during this year’s Six Nations Championship, but club-mate Slade has been rewarded for an outstanding start to the current campaign, one in which he has helped the Chiefs to reach third place in the Aviva Premiership.

Fellow Chiefs Dave Ewers and Thomas Waldrom, both of whom spent last week at England’s training base at Pennyhill Park in Bagshot, have not been retained and have returned to Sandy Park ahead of this week’s LV= Cup encounter with Bath.

England, however, have been dealt another injury blow ahead of the upcoming series with the news that Joe Launchbury will miss the entire November programme with a neck problem.

The Wasps player is suffering from nerve irritation that requires six to eight weeks of rest and rehabilitation, ruling him out of the full schedule.

“It’s disappointing but it’s important for Joe, England and Wasps that he has the appropriate recovery period. We are confident he’ll be back in the new year,” Lancaster said.

Launchbury’s place in the extended squad preparing for Saturday’s opener at Twickenham has been taken by the uncapped Graham Kitchener, of Leicester Tigers.

With Geoff Parling out until December because of concussion, Courtney Lawes and Dave Attwood are likely to form the second row against the All Blacks, with George Kruis offering cover from the bench. Another option available to Lancaster is to play in-form flanker Calum Clark at lock.

Losing Launchbury is a major setback for Lancaster as the 23-year-old has become a key member of England’s pack, starting their last 20 Tests and forging an outstanding second-row combination with Lawes.

England’s playing resources have been sorely depleted by injury, with Parling, Alex Corbisiero, Mako Vunipola, Tom Youngs, Dan Cole, Ed Slater, Tom Croft and Manu Tuilagi already ruled out of the entire autumn series.

Lancaster confirmed that centre Luther Burrell would be unavailable against New Zealand because of a hand injury, but he could return for the remaining fixtures. Burrell will continue to receive treatment at Northampton alongside fly-half Stephen Myler, who has a mild hamstring strain.

“Luther has seen the specialist and the news is positive. He could be available later in the series, and we’ll look to bring him into camp further down the line,” Lancaster said.

Meanwhile, London Irish hooker David Paice has been added to the squad for the start of the week as cover for Dylan Hartley and Rob Webber.

England will name their team on Thursday to face the All Blacks.


Revised England squad: Loose-head props: J Marler (Harlequins), M Mullan (Wasps).

Tight-head props: K Brookes (Newcastle Falcons), H Thomas (Bath), D Wilson (Bath).

Hookers: D Hartley (Northampton), D Paice (London Irish), R Webber (Bath).

Locks: D Attwood (Bath), G Kitchener (Leicester), G Kruis (Saracens), C Lawes (Northampton).

Back Rows: C Clark (Northampton), J Haskell (Wasps), B Morgan (Gloucester), C Robshaw (Harlequins, capt), B Vunipola (Saracens), T Wood (Northampton).

Half-Backs: D Care (Harlequins), L Dickson (Northampton), B Youngs (Leicester), R Wigglesworth (Saracens), O Farrell (Saracens), G Ford (Bath).

Centres: B Barritt (Saracens), K Eastmond (Bath), J Joseph (Bath), H Slade (Exeter Chiefs), B Twelvetrees (Gloucester).

Back threes: M Brown (Harlequins), A Goode (Saracens), J May (Gloucester), J Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath), A Watson (Bath), M Yarde (Harlequins).