England braced for Marcus Smith update amid fears he may miss entire Six Nations

Marcus Smith has been ruled out of at least the first two rounds of the Six Nations (Adam Davy/PA)

England have revealed Marcus Smith could miss the entire Guinness Six Nations because of the calf injury that has ruled him of at least Saturday’s opener against Italy and Wales a week later.

A clearer picture over Smith’s fitness will emerge next week, but in the meantime veteran George Ford has been installed at fly-half for the Stadio Olimpico showdown with Fin Smith deputising from the bench.