England's Injury Curse continues

England have been striking gold again and again in 2016, but right now they'll be wishing for a gold lamp with a genie inside. Over the last month there hasn't been a week gone by which an England player hasn't suffered a long term injury ruling them out of the Autumn Internationals.

Eddie Jones can't rely on Itoje to fill the void anymore, what has happened to England's player pool?

For a team like England a length injury list isn't usually an issue. England has - officially - the biggest player base in the world, and one of the most competitive leagues in which these players can prove their value. However this is a one of a kind injury list, excluding the likes of Anthony Watson, George Kruis and Dylan Hartley, pretty much all of the injuries have been in the back row. Just a glance at the list and you realise the depth of the issue facing Eddie Jones: James Haskell; Sam Jones; Jack Clifford; Mike Williams; Maro Itoje. The main thing all those players posses is the ability to play openside flanker. I can't remember a similar injury list for an international side so dedicated to a single shirt.

Sam Jones is unfortunate, was my pick for the 7 shirt.

At the beginning of the season it was known that James Haskell would be missing the Autumn series, but England looked in good shape. Jack Clifford & Sam Jones were playing superbly for their respective sides. Both players filled the void left by the experience Haskell in very similar fashion, aggressive in the contact, committed in making the hard yards, and both with a developing ability at the breakdown (something that Haskell himself was still working on). Clifford was the first to drop out of the running picking up an injury while still with Harlequins, but no one was worried Sam Jones was the rising star and would just have to don the jersey earlier than anticipated. However after a mishap at a judo session with England, Jones broke his ankle and was out of the running.

With the two preferred options out, pundits were left considering the remaining options. Would Robshaw return to the jersey which haunted him last year? Would Eddie Jones through the exciting - yet inexperienced - Mike Williams of Leicster into the Test arena? Would Super Maro be shunted to the backrow?

Even Robshaw think's he is a 6.

Eddie Jones has long said Robshaw is a 6, not a 7, so it is unlikely for him to be moved from the position he has flourished under with Jones. The Mike Williams option was risky to start, but is now a non-option after he picked up an injury as well. Until yesterday it looked like all the world that Maro Itoje would be conducting his work for England in the backrow. That was until he picked up a hand injury playing for Saracens that has put him out for six weeks. It's one calamity after another in England's backrow. Add in the the loss of their other Grand Slam winning lock of George Kruis and suddenly the England pack is nothing like the one which completed a series white-wash against the Wallabies.

Who plays against South Africa?

So with all these players out, what are the options for for Eddie Jones and his coaching staff as they look to complete a perfect calendar year. Thankfully their back-line can remain largely consistent, only the wondrous finishing ability of Watson is missing, and the have plenty of players lining up to compete for the jersey. The front row again remains largely consistent, Mako Vunipola has been exceptional for Saracens, captain Hartley has returned for Saints and should be fully mobile come November 12th, and Dan Cole is the stand out tight-head in England.

So filling in the injury crisis, what to do? Billy Vunipola is a shoe in for No. 8, there is no better option for England and his role as a vice captain is critical. As mentioned a dozen times by head coach Jones, Robshaw is a blindside flanker and as such should remain there and continue to do the hard work he is so good at. Losing Kruis and Itoje initially appears catastrophic in the engine room, but there is a wealth of experienced replacements: Launchbury, Lawes, Attwood to name but a few. Which just leaves the age old question of who should play 7 for England?

Long shot? Armitage
return?

Teimana Harrison is the only candidate with international experience, although he hasn't exactly impressed the coaches when he has played. Matt Kvesic provides a different sort of openside to the kind Jones has used so far. Going against my opinions another option is to bring Wasps' bruising ball
carrier Nathan Hughes in at blindside flanker and shift Robshaw back to 7, I worry a little it would create an imbalance in the backrow - but desperate times call for desperate measures. Speaking of desperate times, could this be the long awaited time for the "exceptional circumstances" law to come into effect? With the likes of Sam Underhill (soon to be returning for the Ospreys) and Steffon Armitage potentially getting a phone call from Eddie Jones?

It will be very interesting to see the side that England can name come November 12th for their first game against the Springboks.