Clive Woodward has already suffered the loss of captain Martin Johnson, Lawrence Dallaglio and possibly Phil Vickery, who has a knee injury.

The England chief will also need late fitness tests on Vickery's fellow prop Julian White and Leicester forward Martin Corry.

Now Lewsey's withdrawal will leave Woodward to rely on Mike Catt and Will Greenwood, both of whom have just recovered from long-term injuries, to spearhead England's midfield.

Lewsey, who impressed on England's tour to Canada and America, said: "I can't believe this has happened with the internationals coming up.

"In the end I think I was actually quite lucky because I sustained the injury running into Mark Denney's elbow and then received another knock on the head soon after.

"The Wasps physio took the decision out of my hands and told me I had to come off.

"The jaw is quite secure on one side but another knock would have meant I would have to sit around wired up for six weeks.

"The injury is quite sore and the swelling won't go down for another week.

"At the time I thought I had only bruised my jaw but the injury is unfortunately part of playing rugby."