England have named their team to play the Wallabies on Sunday morning, with a few changes forced due to injuries.
With powerful carrying forwards Courtney Lawes and Billy Vunipola unavailable due to injury, Stuart Lancaster has been forced to alter his forward pack that was on the losing side against Wales.
Vunipola will miss the rest of the tournament with injury, and he has been replaced by burly eighth man Ben Morgan, who certainly doesn’t lack power himself.
WALLABIES TEAM TO PLAY ENGLAND
Geoff Parling will pair Joe Launchbury in the second row in the absence of Lawes, while Tom Wood retains his place at blindside flanker ahead of Jamie Haskell.
Sam Burgess, as touted earlier in the week, has moved to the bench to make way for Jonathan Joseph, who will play outside centre with the tough Brad Barritt moving to Burgess’ spot at inside centre.
Owen Farrell retains his fly half position ahead of George Ford, in a signal of the kind of game England will want to play.
His pinpoint goalkicking is sure to be a factor.
Ben Youngs has overcome injury, in what is a huge boost for England.
Possibly England’s best player against Wales, he came off in the second half with an injury scare.
England coach Stuart Lancaster said he had no concerns over the fitness of Youngs, who would have been a big concern after his early exit from the field against Wales.
“JJ and Ben Youngs are both fit and raring to go, as are the rest of the squad for what will be a huge game against a very good team.
“England-Australia matches at Twickenham are always massive occasions, this one more than ever, and we want everyone behind us so we can get the result we all want.”
England side to face Australia
15. Mike Brown
14. Anthony Watson
13. Jonathan Joseph
12. Brad Barritt
11. Jonny May
10. Owen Farrell
9. Ben Youngs
8. Ben Morgan
7. Chris Robshaw
6. Tom Wood
5. Geoff Parling
4. Joe Launchbury
3. Dan Cole
2. Tom Youngs
1. Joe Marler
Replacements
16. Rob Webber
17. Mako Vunipola
18. Kieran Brookes
19. George Kruis
20. Nick Easter
21. Richard Wigglesworth
22. George Ford
23. Sam Burgess
Anthony Hird
Roar Guru
To knock the Poms out will be a true pleasure.
ThugbyFan
Guest
Hi EJ, 16 players? is that the 15 players named in the run-on side plus the Frog referee? what about the additional "English" players on the sidelines pretending to be "assistant refs". Thats 18 + the TMO = 19. And don't forget the ground screen people who will ensure rapid and multiple replays for any WB transgressions or knock-ons for the ref to see, while seemingly too busy to notice the 15 such errors by the Poms. Lol
HandsOffBlack7
Guest
“JJ and Ben Youngs are both fit and raring to go, as are the rest of the squad for what will be a huge game against a very good team. I Call BS on that statement. Both players are playing because this is do or die for England. If they won against Wales, I wonder if we would see these two? It's a gamble that any team would make. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and I am by no means saying they shouldn't be there. "Fit & Raring to go" I'm not so sure... I will be surprised if at least one of these players are not forced from the field due to injury.
RT
Guest
Unfortunately for both sets of supporters I suspect this game will come down to a controversial refereeing decision.
Patrick Effeney
Editor
There's a joke about the England team not being 'Youngs' enough in there somewhere, but I don't know where.
El Gamba
Roar Guru
Spiro was right the English QC must've come in on some technicality.. Lawes is a loss?
Hello
Roar Rookie
It will be interesting to see if Tom Youngs and clone tom Youngs play the same game
eagleJack
Roar Guru
I know England might struggle, but Im not sure it is fair that they have named 16 players to start! :)