England’s Nations Championship plans hit by Pepper and Van Rensburg double blow

England rugby head coach Steve Borthwick has suffered a double injury blow ahead of the autumn Nations Championship, with Bath flanker Guy Pepper (ankle injury sustained against Gloucester) and Bristol centre Benhard van Rensburg (advised to rest after two concussions in three months) both ruled out for the entire autumn period. Borthwick also faces uncertainty over first-choice fly-half Fin Smith, with fresh injury concerns emerging regularly. The England coach admitted he is monitoring this weekend's Premiership fixtures with trepidation.