England fret over Fin Smith’s fitness for Australia clash as Borthwick calls up Charlie Atkinson

England’s preparations for their Nations Championship opener against Australia have been disrupted by a calf injury to fly-half Fin Smith. The Northampton Saints playmaker picked up the problem during the second half of Saturday’s match against Leicester and will miss the squad’s three-day training camp in Bagshot this week. Head coach Steve Borthwick has responded by calling up Leicester’s Charlie Atkinson, while Guy Pepper and Benhard van Rensburg are also injury doubts. Smith’s absence would be a significant blow, as the 22-year-old has emerged as a key figure in England’s attacking game. The injury comes at a critical moment, with the Wallabies due at Twickenham next week in a match that could shape the early standings of the new tournament. Borthwick will be hoping for a swift recovery, but the call-up of Atkinson signals that England are preparing for the possibility of being without their first-choice No 10.