England Beat Australia 45-22, but Lose Two Key Players to Injury

England beat Australia 45-22 at Allianz Stadium, but the win has come with a heavy cost. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Tom Curry are both out of the rest of England's autumn games, and the squad has been hit by several more injuries.

Feyi-Waboso, the wing, had scored inside the first two minutes, as England Rugby reported. Not long after, he was hurt. He hurt his right ankle during a hip-drop tackle by Australia prop Angus Bell, a tackle where the tackler twists and drops his weight to bring the ball carrier down awkwardly. The Telegraph and Sky Sports both confirmed the ankle injury. He will miss the games against Japan and New Zealand, and the finals weekend match.

Tom Curry is out with a hip problem. The Guardian reports that he picked it up in training last week, and he has been ruled out of the rest of England's November campaign. His twin brother Ben took his place in the side against Australia, starting at openside flanker. That is the back-row position that contests for the ball on the ground after a tackle, a job that needs stamina and a sharp eye for turnovers.

There was better news for Ben's role in the team and for George Furbank. Both returned to the starting line-up after injury-enforced absences. Furbank's comeback did not last long, though. He suffered a groin injury in his first England appearance for two years, and he is expected to miss the match with Japan on Saturday, according to The Guardian.

Furbank is not the only doubt for that game. Ollie Chessum has a shoulder injury, and Seb Atkinson was withdrawn against Australia with a hip problem. The Guardian also reports that both are expected to miss the Japan match.

England's squad has been reshaped as a result. Tobias Elliott of Saracens has been called up. Earlier, Reuters reported that England had named a 36-player squad for the November matches without scrumhalf Alex Mitchell, who was injured.

The Nations Championship is the sport's new international competition, and England's autumn fixtures are its first test of depth. Squads for these games are built to cope with injuries, but losing a wing and a flanker for the rest of the series puts pressure on the players left behind. Head coach Steve Borthwick now has to find answers for the Japan match, with several key names unavailable.

For England fans, the scoreline is the good news. The concern is the list of names on the injury report.