Fin Smith steps up training with hopes of facing Australia

Fin Smith faces a pivotal practice session on Wednesday as England’s chief playmaker looks to prove his fitness for the autumn opener against Australia at Allianz Stadium.

Smith is to train alongside his international team-mates for the first time since injuring his calf in Northampton’s defeat by Leicester on October 24.

England are increasingly optimistic the British and Irish Lion will prove he is ready for Sunday’s Nations Championship clash given he has so far progressed through every stage of his recovery.

Head coach Steve Borthwick names his team on Friday, potentially giving his first choice fly-half two full training sessions ahead of his hoped-for comeback in the first of four Tests this month.

If Smith fails to get the green light, Test centurion George Ford and Harlequins ringmaster Marcus Smith will compete for the number 10 jersey in a duel between experience and form.

“Fin is really good and he’s tracking nicely,” Smith’s Northampton team-mate Tommy Freeman said.

“He’s doing the right stuff with the physios. It’s always good having him there because of the connection I have with him at the club, which will always be beneficial for me.”

Whoever features against Australia, they will partner Jack van Poortvliet at half-back as England reel from the loss of Alex Mitchell for the entire campaign.

A scan has revealed Mitchell’s fourth hamstring issue of 2026 – a grim succession of injuries affecting both legs – requires weeks of rehabilitation, ruling him out of the Tests against Australia, Japan and New Zealand as well as finals weekend.

It occurred when playing for Northampton against Gloucester on Saturday and with another Saints scrum-half, Archie McParland, out for at least the Australia game because of a calf issue, England have been forced to add Ben Spencer and Harry Randall to their squad.

“To see Mitch go off like that is not nice, but these things happen,” Freeman said. “It’s sport, it comes with the game. We’re gutted for Mitch and hopefully it’s a good recovery for him.”

Freeman’s own place in the team appears to be on the wing having started there for the last two Tests, wins against Fiji and Argentina during the first phase of the Nations Championship in July.

The Lions star began the tour at outside centre in the clash with South Africa – his sixth consecutive Test start in the midfield – but England appear to have shelved experimenting with his position, at least for now.

“The wing’s been a bit of a focus,” Freeman said. “Playing there and having that continuity there is probably where I’m very comfortable.

“But I’ll always have the ability to go into midfield if needs be. You see across a number of teams there are players who have the ability to cover positions.

“My point of difference is when I get my hands on the ball and create a threat. That’s when I can get some go-forward and put other boys into good positions.”