Fin Smith Faces Pivotal Session to Prove Fitness for England's Australia Opener

Fin Smith's hopes of starting England's autumn opener come down to one training session. The fly-half is due to train alongside his international team-mates for the first time since injuring his calf in Northampton's defeat by Leicester on October 24, with Wednesday's session set to decide whether he is ready to face Australia at Allianz Stadium on Sunday. England are increasingly optimistic that the British and Irish Lion will prove his fitness, having progressed through every stage of his recovery so far. Head coach Steve Borthwick names his team on Friday, potentially giving his first-choice fly-half two full training sessions ahead of a hoped-for comeback in the first of four Tests this month. Whoever features at fly-half will partner Jack van Poortvliet at half-back, with England already reeling from the loss of Alex Mitchell for the entire campaign after a scan revealed his fourth hamstring issue of 2026. Mitchell is out of the Tests against Australia, Japan and New Zealand as well as finals weekend, which makes Smith's fitness all the more important for an England side opening a defining November.