Farrell to Miss Final Test

England number one fly-half Owen Farrell has suffered a knee strain and will therefore miss Saturday’s third and final Test against New Zealand.

It was in this weekend’s second Test in Dunedin where the young Saracens playmaker strained the medial ligament in his left leg as the side narrowly slipped to a 28-27 defeat to the World Champions.

"It's disappointing for Owen as he was desperate to play in the final Test," England head coach Stuart Lancaster said.

Farrell completed the second Test at the Forsyth Barr Stadium but Lancaster revealed the following day that the Saracens playmaker had picked up the injury.

Therefore, with the final game just a few days away at the Waikato Stadium in Hamilton, Lancaster is going to have to select someone else to lead the English backs.

With England’s second choice fly-half George Ford not even present in New Zealand as he undergoes surgery on a shoulder injury back home, the starting place should fall, once again, to Freddie Burns, who impressed in the first Test in Auckland.

"Owen's knee has been scanned and there is a strain there. Such is his character that he is already working on his rehab and still contributing to the tour," Lancaster said.

"Fortunately we have three other fly-halves to call on and we'll make that selection call over the next few days.

"The squad have trained well and we will narrow down selection over the next 24 hours following the game this evening."

Centres Luther Burrell and Billy Twelvetrees trained on Tuesday despite battling ankle injuries, but scrum-half Danny Care is still struggling with his shoulder problem.