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England head coach Steve Borthwick is sweating on the fitness of key men Ollie Chessum and Tommy Freeman for Saturday's crunch clash with New Zealand.
After wins over Australia and Fiji so far this autumn took them to a nine-match unbeaten run and into fourth place in World Rugby's rankings, the All Blacks are next up for England.
But ahead of what promises to be a monumental and campaign-defining game, Borthwick has worries over two of his most trusted lieutenants. Lock Chessum and wing or centre Freeman both missed England training on Monday with foot and hamstring injuries respectively. Chessum was seen on crutches at England's Pennyhill Park base.
Both players suffered their fitness issues in last Saturday's 38-18 victory over Fiji and were replaced in the second half. 'I was told Tommy was feeling a bit tight. That was why I decided to make that change. It's as simple as that,' Borthwick said of Freeman post-Fiji. Should Chessum and Freeman both not recover in time to face New Zealand, it would amount to a huge blow to Borthwick and his team's chances of success.
The pair are certain starters if fit and were both British & Irish Lions in Australia in the summer.
If Chessum is unavailable, it is likely Alex Coles will take his place to partner captain Maro Itoje, who was on the bench against Fiji, at lock. Chandler Cunningham-South, who was at No 8 last weekend, would then be a possible replacement option who could cover second row as well as back-row.
Steve Borthwick could be without key players Ollie Chessum and Tommy Freeman for Saturday's crunch clash with New Zealand
Chessum (left) and Freeman (right) both picked up injuries against Fiji and are in a race against time to prove their fitness
With Freeman, however, things are not quite so clear cut. The Northampton try machine played at No 13 against Australia before reverting back to his usual wing berth for Fiji. His hamstring tightness could force Borthwick into a back-line reshuffle though he is hardly short of options.
Sale wing Tom Roebuck missed Fiji with an ankle problem but is back fit and would be a natural replacement. Bath's Henry Arundell is another wing option.
Borthwick has a big call to make at full back with Elliot Daly now back fit to rival Freddie Steward and Marcus Smith.
Daly broke his arm on the summer's Lions tour of Australia which meant he was ruled out of the successful Test series win over the Wallabies. He hasn't played at all in the 2025/26 campaign to date for his club Saracens.
But he is still under consideration to come straight back in from the cold and start England's acid autumn test with the All Blacks. Both Daly and Steward trained on Monday. Daly's experience and versatility is highly valued by Borthwick and England given he can cover full back, outside centre and wing.
No 1 scrum-half Alex Mitchell was clear in how much Daly can bring to the national side.
'He's been in camp the last couple of weeks but to get him in full training will be massive for us,' Mitchell said of Daly. 'He always chips in at the right time and he really shows his experience. He is obviously a quality player. He's shown the last year or so how good he is. He's been doing it for years now.'
