England head coach Steve Borthwick has named an unchanged XV for his team’s second autumn clash with Australia on Saturday, but the switching of starting centres Ollie Lawrence and Henry Slade could yet be a highly significant moment for the national side.
Borthwick saw his team beaten 24-22 by New Zealand in their November opener last Saturday in what was a game they really should have won.
Lawence and Slade began the All Blacks clash at inside centre and outside centre respectively, but will change positions for Australia.
While the swap might seem minor, England will undoubtedly hope it will give Bath powerhouse Lawrence more of an opportunity to use his pace and physicality in wide channels. Lawrence and Slade worked well as a defensive force against New Zealand, but the pair struggled in attack with Lawrence in particular playing a close to non-existent role with ball in hand.
Slade has moved one position in to No 12 and will offer a second playmaking, as well as left-foot kicking option to fly-half Marcus Smith who remains as the man in charge of the team.
Borthwick has named the same team to face Australia as the one that lost to New Zealand
Ollie Lawrence will be swapping to outside center with Henry Slade going to inside center
England hope to bounce back after throwing away a lead to lose 24-22 against the All Blacks
The overriding consensus of many was that Smith should not have been substituted in the second half of the New Zealand game.
England let slip an eight-point lead when he left the field. Aside from the midfield switch, Borthwick has kept faith with the New Zealand team.
His only changes to the matchday 23 are on the bench.
Hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie and wing Ollie Sleightholme are set to make their first appearances of the Autumn Nations Series. They join Fin Baxter, Dan Cole, Nick Isiekwe, Alex Dombrandt, Harry Randall and George Ford among the replacements.
‘Facing Australia is always a massive challenge, and we’ll work diligently this week to ensure we’re physically and tactically prepared to take on the Wallabies,’ said Borthwick.
‘The passion and energy from the crowd at Allianz Stadium last weekend was absolutely brilliant, from the opening whistle to the final moments, and we can’t wait to be back at home this Saturday.’ Borthwick has again named his team two days earlier than planned.
Captain Jamie George remains as leader and it is no real surprise that the England head coach has resisted the temptation of more wholesale changes.
Australia, who beat Wales 2-0 in July, should be more of a straightforward task for England than New Zealand, but Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies cannot be taken for granted.
Marcus Smith remains in charge of Borthwick’s starting unit in the fly-half position
Sleightholme’s presence in the 23 means England revert to the more traditional split of five forwards and three backs on the bench.
Cowan-Dickie replaces Theo Dan with Sleightholme’s selection meaning Ben Curry drops out of the 23.
England team to face Australia
(November 9, Allianz Stadium, Twickenham. Kick-off: 3.10pm. TNT Sports):
First XV: George Furbank; Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Ollie Lawrence, Henry Slade, Tommy Freeman; Marcus Smith, Ben Spencer; Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Will Stuart, Maro Itoje, George Martin, Chandler Cunningham-South, Tom Curry, Ben Earl
Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Fin Baxter, Dan Cole, Nick Isiekwe, Alex Dombrandt, Harry Randall, George Ford, Ollie Sleightholme
