England captain Owen Farrell tests positive for COVID-19 before Tonga clash as Marcus Smith waits in wings

England captain Owen Farrell has returned a positive COVID-19 test on the eve of the Autumn Nations Series opener against Tonga to put his place in grave danger.

Although he has not been definitively ruled out of Saturday's Twickenham showdown (a game you can hear live on talkSPORT) pending the outcome of further lateral flow and PCR tests, his involvement is in grave doubt.

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All players and staff underwent a round of PCR testing on Thursday after a member of Eddie Jones' backroom staff produced a positive result, but only Farrell has come back as a confirmed case.

Farrell is isolating until England discover the outcome of his latest batch of tests in the hope his sample was a false-positive and as a result he is missing the captain's run at Twickenham on Friday morning.

A statement released by the Rugby Football Union said that preparations for England's first match against Tonga outside a World Cup are otherwise continuing as planned, but this setback causes significant disruption.

Apart from the prospect of losing their captain and a senior player who escaped Jones' recent purge of his old guard, England know their options at fly-half are thin because of the leg injury incurred by Marcus Smith.

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Jones had planned to start Smith at fly-half with Farrell operating at inside centre in a dual playmaker partnership, but Smith has been unable to train fully so far this week because of his injury.

The Harlequins sensation was deemed fit enough for a place on the bench in the hope that he would prove his fitness in Friday's practice session, but he could now be thrust into the starting XV.

Replacement George Furbank is the only other fly-half option in the matchday 23, who Jones sees as a full-back who can cover 10.

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The Autumn Nations Series continues on talkSPORT 2 this weekend with 5 games in an international rugby takeover! 

From 12:30 on Saturday Ireland face the Brave Blossoms of Japan, then England take on Tonga at Twickenham, after that Wales welcome the 2019 World Cup winners South Africa and to finish off the action France host Argentina.

On Sunday, Scotland will face a resurgent Australia side. There's also a preview podcast which you can get on the talkSPORT app. We are your home for autumn rugby.