England winger Jonny May will miss the second Test match against Australia in Brisbane as he continues to recover from Covid-19.
May, 32, tested positive after arriving in Australia and had to isolate for seven days as per Australian Covid regulations.
But he has taken longer to recover than hoped and has yet to resume training, which will likely see him miss out for the second week in a row.
It brings another selection dilemma for head coach Eddie Jones after flanker Tom Curry was ruled out for the remainder of the tour after suffering a concussion.
With May, who has 69 England caps and 35 tries, out of the second Test, it presents an opportunity for someone to stake their claim.
Jack Nowell was effective on the other wing which would suggest he will continue to play on the right, but who plays on the left wing in place of May is undecided.
Bath Rugby’s Joe Cokanasiga started there in the first Test, but was outshone by debutant Henry Arundell, whose three-minute cameo saw him cross for yet another stunning try with his first touch of the ball, while his break on an inside pass from Marcus Smith saw him come close to scoring two tries in as many minutes.
The 19-year-old winger could be in line for a first Test start next weekend, with Eddie Jones, who compared him to Matt Giteau earlier in the year, impressed by him so far.
There is also a potential opportunity for Northampton Saints winger Tommy Freeman, who had a sensational season in the Gallagher Premiership, scoring 13 tries.
He featured in an England shirt for the first time earlier in the summer against the Barbarians, impressing in a disappointing afternoon for Eddie Jones and his men.
Guy Porter is another who could slot in on the wing if Jones wanted flexibility across his backline, with the Leicester Tigers star playing at centre or on the wing on the way to winning the Gallagher Premiership, while Joe Marchant is another player that Jones has previously picked on the wing.
May being out may be a problem for Jones as he looks to level the series after the 30-28 defeat in Perth last week, his first defeat against Australia since taking charge in 2016.
But one man’s misfortune is another man’s opportunity, and one thing is for sure – there is a serious chance for someone to make their mark and put themselves in the shop window just over 12 months out from the Rugby World Cup.
