England will be without lock Joe Launchbury for the November Tests after he was ruled out with a neck injury.

The Wasps lock is suffering with a nerve irritation in his neck and has been ruled out for between six and eight weeks.

The loss is a major blow for England, who have seen the 23-year-old become a key member of their pack in recent seasons.

Launchbury has started each of England's last 20 Tests where he has forged a great second-row combination with the athletic Courtney Lawes.

With fellow lock Geoff Parling out until December because of concussion, Dave Attwood is likely to join Lawes in the second row, despite having made just two starts for England in his 12-Test career.

England start a month of internationals against New Zealand at Twickenham this weekend, before facing the Springboks at the same venue a week later.

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