Saracens hooker Jamie George and Harlequins back Joe Marchant added to England squad replacing Luke Cowan-Dickie, who will miss the entire Autumn Nations Series with an ankle injury, and Anthony Watson, who suffered a ruptured ACL last weekend.
Wednesday 20 October 2021 11:04, UK
Hooker Jamie George and utility back Joe Marchant have been called into Eddie Jones' England squad for the Autumn Nations Series as replacements for Luke Cowan-Dickie and Anthony Watson.
George had been one of four veteran players omitted by Jones when he named his initial 34-man squad on Monday, along with his Saracens colleagues Billy and Mako Vunipola and back George Ford.
Cowan-Dickie's ankle injury, which he suffered playing for Exeter Chiefs against Wasps on Saturday, means he will not be available for any of England's clashes with Tonga, Australia and South Africa.
On Wednesday, Exeter confirmed that the hooker will be sidelined for six to eight weeks.
The club's director of rugby Rob Baxter said: "The good news is that it doesn't require an operation, but it is a significant injury that will keep him out for at least the duration of the autumn internationals. Hopefully we'll see him back pre-Europe."
George's experience will be much needed in Cowan-Dickie's absence, with the other hookers in the squad being uncapped Nic Dolly and summer debutant Jamie Blamire.
Blamire made his senior international debut against the United States in June, scoring a try, and then managed a hat-trick in his first start against Canada.
Watson hurt his knee in last Sunday's Gallagher Premiership defeat at the hands of George's Saracens side and Bath have now confirmed the injury to be a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.
His absence left only Jonny May, Adam Radwan and Tommy Freeman to battle for two wing spots but Jones has taken up the option to bring Marchant, who can fill in anywhere along the back-line, into his squad to potentially add to his four caps.
The squad will meet up on Monday to travel to Jersey for a five-day training camp.
England will play Tonga (November 6), Australia (November 13) and South Africa (November 20) with all matches taking place at Twickenham.
Forwards (19);
Jamie Blamire (Newcastle Falcons, 2 caps)
Callum Chick (Newcastle Falcons, 2 caps)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 33 caps)
Trevor Davison (Newcastle Falcons, 1 cap)
Nic Dolly (Leicester Tigers, uncapped)
Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 1 cap)
Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 23 caps)
Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 30 caps)
Jamie George (Saracens, 59 caps)
Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs, 9 caps)
Maro Itoje (Saracens, 48 caps)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 87 caps)
Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 10 caps)
Joe Marler (Harlequins, 72 caps)
George Martin (Leicester Tigers, 1 cap)
Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, 7 caps)
Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 44 caps)
Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 12 caps)
Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 24 caps)
Backs (15);
Mark Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby, uncapped)
Owen Farrell (Saracens, 93 caps)
Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
George Furbank (Northampton Saints, 4 caps)
Max Malins (Saracens, 8 caps)
Joe Marchant (Harlequins, 4 caps)
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 66 caps)
Raffi Quirke (Sale Sharks, uncapped)
Adam Radwan (Newcastle Falcons, 1 cap)
Harry Randall (Bristol Bears, 2 caps)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 40 caps)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 2 caps)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 2 caps)
Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks, 43 caps)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 109 caps)
