England's starting XV includes Farrell at 10, replacing George Ford, Yarde in for Nowell on the wing and Burrell in at inside centre to give much needed bulk in midfield. Yarde will inject pace into the back three, but has scored few tries this season for his club, and is no better defensively than Ashton, who didn't even make the plane. Anyway, I, along with many others hope to eat our words come Saturday lunchtime, when he collects his MOM award having helped England win the game. England should get some impact off the bench from Lawes and Launchbury, with Itoje likely to cover back row, possibly replacing Robshaw in second half. It still concerns me that Haskell is not a natural 7 to combat the obvious Pooper threat at the breakdown.
England: 15. Mike Brown; 14. Anthony Watson, 13. Jonathan Joseph, 12. Luther Burrell, 11. Marland Yarde; 10. Owen Farrell, 9. Ben Youngs; 1. Mako Vunipola, 2. Dylan Hartley, 3. Dan Cole, 4. Maro Itoje, 5. George Kruis, 6. Chris Robshaw, 7. James Haskell, 8. Billy Vunipola.
Replacements: 16. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17. Matt Mullan, 18. Paul Hill, 19. Joe Launchbury, 20. Courtney Lawes, 21. Danny Care, 22. George Ford, 23. Jack Nowell.
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| Yarde in for Nowell in First Test |
Australia is forced to blood three new players as a lot of their RWC 2015 squad is still playing in France. Dane Haylett-Petty, the Western Force full back, makes his debut on the wing, Samu Kerevi of the Reds comes in as 12 alongside Kuridrani (combined weight of 33 stone) and, finally Rory Arnold, at 6ft 8in, partners Rob Simmons in second row. Despite absences, the Wallabies have experienced match winners in key positions from Folau at 15, Foley at 10 to Moore at hooker and Hooper at 7. Australia's front row has more strength in depth now than in years with Polota-Nau, Slipper and Kepu all on the bench, and Sean McMahon is another natural openside in the Pooper mould. Nick Frisby will become another Wallaby debutant at scrum half at some stage and Lealiifano would have started at 12 had it not been for the birth of his first child.
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| Arnold the Brumbie becomes tallest Wallaby ever |
Australia: Israel Folau; Dane Haylett-Petty, Tevita Kuridrani, Samu Kerevi, Rob Horne; Bernard Foley, Nick Phipps; Scott Sio, Stephen Moore (captain), Greg Holmes, Rory Arnold, Rob Simmons, Scott Fardy, Michael Hooper, David Pocock.
Replacements: Tatafu Polota-Nau, James Slipper, Sekope Kepu, James Horwill, Dean Mumm, Sean McMahon, Nick Frisby, Christian Lealiifano
The first test represents England's best chance of a victory, so it will be tight, but I predict Australia to win by 7 points.
