Easter handed a blow
Nick Easter has been ruled out of England's two-Test tour of New Zealand with a hand injury.
Nick Easter has been ruled out of England's two-Test tour of New Zealand after suffering a fracture to his right hand.
The Harlequins number eight was injured during England's laboured win over the Barbarians at Twickenham last weekend.
Specialists cleared Easter to fly to Auckland with the squad on Monday – but England officials confirmed on Sunday the injury failed to settle as anticipated.
As a result, the 29-year-old will return home to seek further treatment. England's stand-in team manager Rob Andrew will not be calling in a replacement.
“I'm obviously very disappointed to leave the tour,” said Easter, who captained the England XV against the Barbarians.
“Like all the players in the squad, I was competing for a place to face the All Blacks – which is always a massive challenge and one I was really looking forward to.
“The chances to tour here don't come around very often, but it's essential that I get my hand sorted out. I'd like to wish the England squad all the best.”
England tackle the All Blacks in Auckland next Saturday, before travelling to Christchurch for the second Test on June 21.
Easter's departure is set to open the door for the likes of Gloucester loose forward Luke Narraway to compete with Leicester's Tom Croft and Wasps back row James Haskell.
Andrew added: “On behalf of the whole squad, I'd like to wish Nick a speedy recovery. I won't be flying in anyone to replace Nick, because we brought out seven back-row forwards for the tour – so we have sufficient cover.”
Easter, who scored during England's 17-14 win in a feisty game against the Barbarians, broke the second metacarpal on his right hand. He leaves for England this morning after just four days in New Zealand.
The 29-year-old joins Wasps duo Danny Cipriani and Paul Sackey and Leicester centre Dan Hipkiss in withdrawing from the tour due to injury.
Andrew will name his team on Tuesday and it is likely to contain just a handful of names that started England's last international, the 33-10 victory over Ireland in mid-March.
On top of the injury withdrawals, England have travelled without Phil Vickery, Simon Shaw, Jonny Wilkinson, Josh Lewsey and James Simpson-Daniel who might all have come into Test match contention but are in different stages of rehabilitation.
As captain, Steve Borthwick is a certainty to start while prop Andrew Sheridan, hooker Lee Mears, loose forwards Croft and Michael Lipman, centre Toby Flood and scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth are the only other potential survivors.
Elsewhere, Andrew is set to recall Olly Barkley and Mike Tindall, who suffered a lacerated liver on his last England appearance, against Wales in the Six Nations, and he could hand a Test debut to London Irish winger Topsy Ojo.
Andrew returned to England's Auckland base-camp on Sunday after watching the All Blacks' 21-11 win over Ireland at a rain-swept Wellington.
New Zealand are also having to rebuild after losing the likes of prop Carl Hayman, lock Chris Jack and centre Luke McAlister to the northern hemisphere following the World Cup.
They were unconvincing in horrendous conditions at the 'Cake Tin' but Andrew was quick to dismiss any suggestion the All Blacks could be an easy target.
“It was a tough game for both sides in very difficult conditions but New Zealand proved again that you cannot write them off as some people have done in recent weeks,” he said.
“They were very physical and impressive at the breakdown and their set piece was very efficient.
“Conrad Smith's break that created the try for Sitiveni Sivivatu and Dan Carter's break that led to Ma'a Nonu's try were both top draw.
“The game underlined that we're facing a tough and exciting challenge on June 14 and it's one we're looking forward to.”