Thu 14 Jul 2022 | 10:42
50 Up For Nic White As Australia Prepare For Titanic English Clash

England coach Eddie Jones has named an experienced side in a bid to secure a second successive series win in Australia.

Scrumhalf Danny Care makes a return having been dropped following the opening test loss in Perth.

Care partners his Harlequins teammate Marcus Smith to form an exciting halfback pairing.

Jack van Poortlviet is unlikely not to start following a strong performance in Brisbane last week but he will be on the bench backing up Care.

In the centres the experienced Owen Farrell is joined by Guy Porter who returns to his stomping ground having previously represented Sydney University, Sydney Rays and later the Canberra Brumbies.

In the forward pack jones has had to reshuffle his side following injuries to Maro Itoje and Sam Underhill.

Leicester Tiger’s Ollie Chessum is in line to make his first start for England in the second row.

Lewis Ludlam returns in Underhill’s position and is partner by captain Courtney Laws and Billy Vunipola in the backrow.

Michael Hooper once again leads out the Wallabies in what will be scrumhalf Nic White’s 50th test.

White is partnered by the ever improving Noah Lolesio who once again gets the nod at flyhalf.

Centres Samu Kerevi and Hunter Paisami will continue to bed down their combination and will once again look to target the English 10/12 axis of Smith and Farrell.

Fullback Reece Hodge has earned a recall to the squad and slots right back in alongside the dynamic duo of Marika Koroibete and Tom Wright in the back three.

On the bench the significant figure of former NRL superstar Suliasi Vunivalu is in line to make his debut.

Vunivalu is one of the many superstar league players that Australian Rugby have vowed to target ahead of the 2027 World Cup.

Jones has once again been in the spotlight this week for comments he has made around player safety.

Appearing to agree with the narrative being driven by New Zealand Rugby that game is being disrupted by players being penalised and subsequently sent off.

Focusing on the final fixture however, Jones said ““We want to play with purpose and energy to win the series and an historic Test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.”

Whilst Jones wants his side to hit the game with an intensity, there is no doubt that Wallabies coach Dave Rennie and his side will be approaching with a similar thought process.

“We know we’re a much better team than how we played in Brisbane and we’ve had a good week of preparation which will allow us to put in a performance that makes Australians proud on Saturday night.

“As a squad we have an opportunity to go to Sydney and lift some silverware in a series decider and that’s something that highly motivates us.”

Australia: 15 Reece Hodge, 14 Tom Wright, 13 Hunter Paisami, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Nic White, 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Michael Hooper (c), 6 Harry Wilson, 5 Nick Frost, 4 Matt Philip, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 David Porecki, 1 James Slipper

Replacements: 16 Folau Fainga’a, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Allan Alaalatoa, 19 Rob Leota, 20 Pete Samu, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Len Ikitau, 23 Suliasi Vunivalu

England: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Jack Nowell, 13 Guy Porter, 12 Owen Farrell, 11 Tommy Freeman, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Danny Care, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Lewis Ludlam, 6 Courtney Lawes (c), 5 Jonny Hill, 4 Ollie Chessum, 3 Will Stuart, 2 Jamie George, 1 Ellis Genge

Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Mako Vunipola, 18 Joe Heyes, 19 Nick Isiekwe, 20 Jack Willis, 21 Jack van Poortlviet, 22 Will Joseph, 23 Henry Arundell

 

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