England will be without Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola for their World Cup opener against Argentina following disciplinary hearings as a result of recent red cards.
Both players will miss this weekend’s Summer Nations Series finale against Fiji while Farrell will sit out the first two World Cup group games against Argentina and Japan.
England’s captain has been handed a four-game ban, one of which has been backdated to include the defeat he missed against Ireland on Saturday.
Vunipola, who was sent off in Dublin for a high tackle on Andrew Porter, has been banned for three games.
That could be reduced to two – allowing him to return against Japan – if he attends a World Rugby coaching school on tackling.
The news will come as a blow to Steve Borthwick ahead of his first World Cup as England coach and experienced scrum-half Danny Care is adamant the side will learn from recent events.
“We are working on our tackle technique every day,” he said. “We get referees in every day, who are trying to help us out.
“In big games, you need 15 players on the pitch. There will be some [red cards] in the World Cup and we are just hoping they are not ours.”
