South African-born centre Benhard van Rensburg and Bath flanker Guy Pepper miss England's autumn, leaving Steve Borthwick sweating on more fitness news.
Benhard van Rensburg, the South African-heritage centre who has been making his mark at Bristol, is out of England's autumn plans after medics advised him to rest following two heavy concussions in the past three months. It is a major setback for a player who looked set to push for a role in Steve Borthwick's squad.
Van Rensburg is not the only casualty. Bath flanker Guy Pepper is also sidelined for several weeks after a nasty-looking ankle injury in last Friday's game against Gloucester. His involvement in the autumn series always looked unlikely from the moment he went down, and the club's initial fears have now been confirmed.
Together, the pair represent a significant double blow for Borthwick, who has lost two potentially important squad members for the entire autumn window. The England head coach is expected to watch this weekend's domestic Premiership fixtures with real trepidation, knowing that any fresh knock could further thin out his options.
The worries do not end there. Doubts still linger over first-choice fly-half Fin Smith, and new injury concerns are emerging almost daily. With the Nations Championship build-up gathering pace, England's selection puzzle is getting harder by the week, and Borthwick will be hoping for a clean bill of health from the weekend's action.
