SICK NATIONS

Borthwick injury crisis as Smith is ruled out... and Mitchell faces race against time to be fit for Italy opener GI

- ADAM HATHAWAY

MARCUS SMITH has been ruled out of England's Six Nation opener against Italy on Saturday in a hammer blow for Steve Borthwick's side.

And, in a potential second setback, scrum-half Alex Mitchell has not trained for the last two days in Spain because of an infected leg wound.

Fly-half Smith injured his calf before limping out of practice on Monday in Girona and scans ruled him out of the Italy clash.

England have asked for a second scan on the 24-year-old to clear up whether he will be available for the round two clash with Wales a week on Saturday.

Assistant coach Kevin Sinfield said: "It was just one of those things.