“We go into this Test with a strong squad of 23. It’s a young, inexperienced but together group.”
Eddie Jones has made three changes to his starting England team for Saturday’s Test Series decider against the Wallabies in Sydney.
England defeated Australia 25-17, last weekend, to level the three-game series. In doing so, however, they lost forwards Maro Itoje and Sam Underhill to concussion.
Coming into the English pack, then, are second row Ollie Chessum and back row Lewis Ludlam. The only other starting XV switch sees Danny Care starting alongside Harlequins teammate Marcus Smith, at 9 and 10, and scrumhalf Jack van Poortlviet drop to the replacements bench.
Lewis Ludlam of England looks to break from a tackle by Jordan Petaia of the Wallabies. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)‘We want to play with purpose’ – Eddie Jones
Heading into Saturday’s Test Series decider, Eddie Jones stressed this is a ‘young, inexperienced’ side. While the match-day 23 has two 19-year-olds and four 21-year-olds, it has players that, together, have 690 Test caps and includes eight British & Irish Lions.
“We’ve had a squad of 36 this tour who have competed hard and we’re really proud of their efforts,” said Jones.
“We go into this Test with a strong squad of 23. It’s a young, inexperienced but together group who have developed well throughout this series.
“We want to play with purpose and energy to win the series and an historic Test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.”
ENGLAND TEAM TO FACE AUSTRALIA
15. Freddie Steward
14. Jack Nowell
13. Guy Porter
12. Owen Farrell
11. Tommy Freeman
10. Marcus Smith
9. Danny Care1. Ellis Genge
2. Jamie George
3. Will Stuart
4. Ollie Chessum
5. Jonny Hill
6. Courtney Lawes (C)
7. Lewis Ludlam
8. Billy Vunipola
REPLACEMENTS Luke Cowan-Dickie, Mako Vunipola, Joe Heyes, Nick Isiekwe, Jack Willis, Jack van Poortlviet, Will Joseph, Henry Arundell
Related links:
- Irish rugby star Nick McCarthy on coming out to his Leinster teammates
- Full England player ratings as Australia bullied in Brisbane
- Romain Ntamack defended after social media backlash to changing room footage
“Keith Earls ain’t finished yet.”
Darren Cave and Greg O’Shea talk about their past experiences training and playing with Keith Earls and think that the people who don’t rate him as a great player don’t know what they’re talking about.
