Autumn Internationals: England team to face Australia, 2018 - Ruck

Autumn Internationals: England team to face Australia, 2018

England head coach Eddie Jones has named his team to play Australia on Saturday in the last Test of the 2018 Quilter Internationals (KO 3pm live on Sky Sports Action and Main Event).

There are nine changes to the side that faced Japan last weekend with three positional switches.


EDITORS PICKS:

Jamie George (Saracens) retains his place at hooker with props Ben Moon (Exeter Chiefs) and Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins) returning to the starting line-up.

Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints) shifts from the backrow to the second row alongside Maro Itoje (Saracens). Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby) will start at openside flanker with Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons) moving to no 8 and Brad Shields (Wasps) returning to blindside flanker.

Co-captain Owen Farrell (Saracens) is named at fly half with Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors) and Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs) as the centre pairing.

Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby) will play on the right wing with Jonny May (Leicester Tigers) named on the opposite side.

Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers) has been passed fit to play and is named as a finisher. The Tigers centre last played for England in 2016. Nathan Hughes (Wasps) is also included on the bench following the conclusion of his suspension.



Co-captain Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints) is in line to make a record 56th international appearance at Twickenham this weekend. He is currently level with Jason Leonard on 55 appearances at the home of England Rugby.

“We’ve picked our best 23 for the Australia game,” said Jones. “We know they have a unique style of attack so our ability to defend that is going to be important. We are continually working on our strengths which is our set piece and our defence and they are areas that are progressing nicely.

“Australia, we know are a traditional rival and we enjoy the occasion of playing them at Twickenham. The spirit of the fans has been outstanding. I think the atmosphere during these Quilter Internationals has been the best atmosphere I’ve certainly experienced and we encourage the fans to be at their robust best at the weekend.”

England have won their last five games against Australia and four of the last five at Twickenham against the Wallabies.

England team to face Australia:
Elliot Daly; Joe Cokanasiga, Henry Slade, Ben Te’o, Jonny May; Owen Farrell, Ben Youngs; Ben Moon, Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler; Maro Itoje, Courtney Lawes; Brad Shields, Sam Underhill, Mark Wilson.
Replacements: Dylan Hartley, Alec Hepburn, Harry Williams, Charlie Ewels, Nathan Hughes, Richard Wigglesworth, George Ford, Manu Tuilagi.