England vs Wales: Ollie Lawrence ruled out as Eddie Jones recalls fit-again trio for Autumn Nations Cup

England boss Eddie Jones will be forced into changes this week after losing centre Ollie Lawrence to injury for the final Autumn Nations Cup group game against Wales.

Lawrence was set to build on his most promising performance in an England shirt yet after impressing in the victory over Ireland, but the Worcester Warriors centre has been left out of the squad that will remain in camp after suffering a “niggling” hip injury upon the team’s return to training on Tuesday.

There are four changes to the squad of 25 from last week’s 18-7 victory over Ireland, with Anthony Watson and Joe Marler both returning from injury to contend for selection. Watson replaces Gloucester wing Ollie Thorley, who has not featured since a cameo off the bench in the Six Nations win over Ireland, while Marler replaces Lawrence with Jones bolstering his pack with an additional forward this week and one fewer back.

Wasps flanker Jack Willis is retained this week as Lewis Ludlam is sent back to Northampton Saints instead, while the final change see fit-again Luke Cowan-Dickie return to the squad at the expense of Bath’s Tom Dunn, having made his return to action for Exeter chiefs last Friday following minor knee surgery at the end of the Premiership season.

With England five points in front of both Ireland and Wales in Group A, a losing bonus point will be enough to guarantee their place in next weekend’s final against likely opponents France, but they will have to do so with a new centre pairing as Lawrence will not be considered this week.

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“Ollie has a little niggle around his abductor and hip area, nothing major but it is a niggle that is concerning him,” said England defence coach John Mitchell, who remains unsure if Lawrence will recover in time for the final.

“I think it is too early to say and I haven't spoken to the medical staff since leaving the field, so it would probably be unprofessional of me to even commit to what I do know, but I do know the type of injury.”

The setback robs Jones of his main replacement for the already-injured Manu Tuilagi, meaning the Australian will need to re-jig his selection plans and change their approach to utilise the strengths of what will be a very different skill set.

Regular outside centre Jonathan Joseph, who has featured on the wing so far this summer, is a candidate to revert to the empty No 13 shirt, while Jones could also elect to restore the George Ford-Owen Farrell combination that he has utilised more often than not during his reign as England head coach, with Henry Slade shifting to outside centre.

It is an unwelcome setback for Lawrence though, who had impressed Jones enough in his debut cameo against Italy during the Six Nations title-winning victory in October to convince him to start the untested 21-year-old against both Georgia and Ireland.

England squad

Backs

Elliot Daly (Saracens, 45 caps)

Owen Farrell (Saracens, 86 caps)

George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 70 caps)

Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 53 caps)

Max Malins (Bristol Bears, 2 caps)

Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 59 caps)

Dan Robson (Wasps, 5 caps)

Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 32 caps)

Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 44 caps)

Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 102 caps)

Forwards

Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 24 caps)

Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 26 caps)

Ben Earl (Bristol Bears, 6 caps)

Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 21 caps)

Jamie George (Saracens, 52 caps)

Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs, 2 caps)

Maro Itoje (Saracens, 41 caps)

Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 67 caps)

Joe Marler (Harlequins, 71 caps)

Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 38 caps)

Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 6 caps)

Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 20 caps)

Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 54 caps)

Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 62 caps)

Jack Willis (Wasps, 1 cap)

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