England boss Martin Johnson faces a full-blown injury crisis for the autumn Tests against Australia, Argentina and New Zealand.

Leicester prop Julian White became the latest casualty when he tore his hamstring just five minutes into Tigers' 18-12 Guinness Premiership defeat to London Irish.

Harlequins number eight Nick Easter, another key component of Johnson's autumn plans, left Sixways on crutches after suffering a calf muscle injury during Quins' 26-22 victory over Worcester.

White joins fellow front-row forwards Andrew Sheridan (shoulder), Lee Mears (knee) and Phil Vickery (neck) in missing the entire autumn series that starts against the Wallabies on November 7.

Johnson is due to name a revised squad tomorrow, and it could be a long selection meeting with his England coaching team.

The likes of full-back Delon Armitage and centre Riki Flutey had already disappeared off Johnson's radar until the RBS 6 Nations Championship later this season.

He will also require updates on players such as Leicester scrum-half Harry Ellis and Wasps lock Simon Shaw, with neither Lion likely to be available for the Australia clash.

White, 36, would undoubtedly have started against the Wallabies - taking Vickery's place - but he is now set for a spell on the sidelines.

"Julian has torn his right hamstring and will not be available for international duty," Leicester head coach Richard Cockerill confirmed.

"Harry Ellis is having rehab on his knee, and we expect him back between seven and 14 days.

"But I doubt very much if he will be involved with England's early autumn games either."

Easter's prospects hardly appear encouraging following his first-half exit at Worcester.

"It looks like he has a calf muscle injury," said Quins head coach John Kingston.

"He is on crutches, and it is impossible to say how many weeks he will be off. But there is obviously a question mark as to whether he will be available for the autumn internationals.

"He will report to England (today), and their medical staff will have to assess the injury."

Johnson watched White limp off at the Madejski Stadium, before Leicester were undone by Irish fly-half Ryan Lamb's pinpoint accuracy.

Lamb booted six penalties in an 18-12 success for the Exiles, earning the plaudits of his coach Toby Booth.

"Ryan is only 22 and he is still learning to control a game," said Booth.

"If he continues to do that, however, I am sure England will come to have a look at him."

Wasps kept themselves firmly in the Guinness Premiership play-off places by thumping Gloucester 35-6 at Kingsholm, claiming a bonus point and piling further pressure on the struggling west country club.

Gloucester wilted in the face of tries from Mark Van Gisbergen (2), Dominic Waldouck and Serge Betsen - and head coach Bryan Redpath pulled no punches after his team dropped to ninth.

"We are lacking massively in confidence," he admitted.

"I don't question our work ethic, but there are a lot of things to do.

"It is a tough time in my career as a coach. We are not making it difficult for anyone to beat us at the moment.

"If players don't have confidence in each other, then it spreads across the side. At the moment, we are cutting our own throats."

Try-scorer Waldouck, meanwhile, suffered a suspected fractured cheekbone following a clash of heads.

Sale Sharks suffered their fourth successive Premiership defeat, beaten 21-16 at Northampton as the Saints maintained imperious home form stretching back almost 40 matches.

Northampton rugby director Jim Mallinder hailed another strong showing from young lock Courtney Lawes, who could be among those players promoted from the England Saxons squad to senior duty by Johnson tomorrow.

"His ball-carrying was very good. He manages to get round the corner and quite often make that extra yard," said Mallinder.

"He is learning all the time. You never know whether he can cope with the step up, do you? But on that performance, and in our two Heineken Cup games, he has been very good."

Bath slumped to 11th place as Newcastle recorded their first Premiership win of the season, claiming a 27-16 verdict at the Recreation Ground.

Bath reached the play-offs and Heineken Cup quarter-finals last term. But head coach Steve Meehan is refusing to press any panic buttons, despite a dismal start to the current campaign.

"We have to rely on the strong characters in this team, the belief that there really is a lot of talent in the side and get back to playing the type of rugby we know we are capable of," he said.

"We've been through moments like this in the past, and if they continue to work hard for each other then we will come out of it. We've just got to relax and do the basics."

Meehan could also have another problem to deal with if Bath props David Wilson and Duncan Bell are required by Johnson for the November Tests.

"If we lose Wilson and Bell for next week (at home to Saracens) and potentially each week into November, then we need to look at our resources and what we can do," he added.

"Will we be able to take the field, knowing the health and safety issues and that we have a duty of care?

"The next tighthead is a 17 or 18-year-old, Kane Newport, and we can't do that at all. That's a question for Premier Rugby."

Despite the loss of Easter, meanwhile, Quins had too much for Worcester - running out 26-22 winners after England internationals Mike Brown and Danny Care scored tries.