England fret over Fin Smith’s fitness for looming Australia match

<ul><li><p>Borthwick responds by calling up Charlie Atkinson</p></li><li><p>Guy Pepper and Benhard van Rensburg also doubts</p></li></ul><p>England are fretting over the fitness of the fly-half Fin Smith in the lead-up to the Nations Championship home opener against Australia on 8 November. The Northampton player ­damaged a calf in the second half <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/oct/24/leicester-northampton-prem-rugby-union-match-report">against Leicester on Saturday</a> and will be unable to join the national squad who have a three-day training camp in Bagshot this week.</p><p>Losing Smith so close to the ­Wallabies game would be a significant blow given the 24-year-old started at 10 in all three of England’s Tests in July and was instrumental in Saints’ domestic title triumph last season.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/oct/26/england-fin-smith-fitness-australia-nations-championship-rugby-union">Continue reading...</a>