England lock George Kruis out of Japan and Australia Tests with injury

Lock George Kruis has been ruled out of England’s remaining autumn Tests against Japan and Australia with a calf injury. The 28-year-old was replaced by Charlie Ewels in the 66th minute of Saturday’s English and Irish Lions 16-15 defeat against New Zealand at Twickenham.

"George has got a calf injury. It's highly unlikely he'll be available again for a few weeks - anywhere from four to eight weeks," coach Eddie Jones said. "It's a calf strain. He did it during the game. It's disappointing because he'd been out injured for a while and was just coming back into form. We'll certainly miss him, but it opens the door for Courtney Lawes or Charlie Ewels to come in. It's testing the depth of the squad."

In his absence and with Joe Launchbury also injured, Mario Itoje is expected to line up alongside Courtney Lawes or Ewels against Japan on Saturday and Australia on 24 November, both at Twickenham.

Jones will name the definitive squad to face Japan on Thursday (15 November).