Alex Mitchell out of Nations Championship opener in fresh England injury blow

Northampton scrum-half Alex Mitchell has been ruled out of England's Nations Championship opener against Australia on Sunday after suffering a hamstring injury during Northampton's Premiership win over Gloucester on Saturday. Mitchell, who is Steve Borthwick's first-choice No 9, will undergo a scan on Tuesday to assess the severity of the injury. Bristol's Harry Randall and Bath's Ben Spencer have been called into the squad as replacements, with England also facing New Zealand and Japan in the upcoming November series.