Australia v England - Teams and Prediction
THE FIRST TEST: Captain Courtney Lawes is expecting the Wallabies to “throw the kitchen sink” at his side to end an eight-Test losing streak against England in Perth.
Australia’s last victory over their old foe came at the 2015 World Cup while England embarrassed the Wallabies on home turf in 2016 with a three-Test whitewash.
Only one of those eight losses has been on current coach Dave Rennie’s watch, falling 32-15 at Twickenham last year, with Lawes expecting the Wallabies to have evolved.
“I certainly think, especially from the autumn [November], they’ll play very differently to that,” said flank Lawes, who has been retained as skipper ahead of superstar Owen Farrell who is making his return from injury.
“I know that they didn’t think they fired any shots in that game and I’d be surprised if they didn’t throw the kitchen sink at us so we’re very ready for all scenarios.”
Our captain for Saturday raising the tempo 🥊@O2 | #WearTheRose pic.twitter.com/UF8Najfccf
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) June 30, 2022
He said that his team couldn’t rest on previous results and England wouldn’t underestimate Australia’s appetite for a win at home.
“Regardless of whether we won three-nil last time or not this is a completely different competition so we can’t take anything for granted,” the 93-Test veteran said.
“Don’t get me wrong, we’re confident going into the game, we’ve got a great team and we’ve had a very good training week so we’re not looking for anything less than a win, but we’re expecting a very tough game.”
The Wallabies have signalled their intent to take on England up front, with the bulk of their forwards coming from the Brumbies, who boast the best set-piece among Australian Super Rugby teams.
They have however included two uncapped players in lock Cadeyrn Nevill and hooker Dave Porecki, who Lawes felt his team could target.
💛 A team announcement to remember for @davidporecki and @Cadeyrn
🗓 Saturday 2nd July, 5:55pm AWST
🏟 Optus Stadium, Perth
🎟 https://t.co/XqrLCCe1cD
📺 @StanSportAU & @Channel9#AUSvENG #Wallabies @etoroAU @CadburyAU pic.twitter.com/o3d5q8sHP8— Wallabies (@wallabies) July 1, 2022
“We’re going look to exert pressure in a number of different ways, obviously line-out is big one for us,” Lawes said.
The Wallabies arrived in Perth late on Thursday from their base on the Queensland Sunshine Coast.
Australian skipper Michael Hooper insisted they weren’t “hiding away” but felt the facilities there allowed his team to best prepare, with a new trophy called the Ella-Mobbs Cup up for grabs.
Only four Wallabies players who took part in the 2016 series remain and Hooper, who started at flank in all three games, felt much had changed.
He said the current selection was a mix of “athleticism and brutality” able to deliver on the way they wanted to play.
“We’re a different team in terms of personnel and everything,” Hooper said.
“We’re very different and we play a different style than we did.
“We’re a year further into our development and we made some good shifts last year.”
“It’s not a reinvention of the wheel but Dave [Rennie] and his crew and us as players are setting a trajectory of where we want this team to go on so we’ve got to deliver that.
“We’ve got a great opportunity to do that against England.”
Players to watch:
For Australia: Samu Kerevi was Australia’s best player last year and his power and speed in the midfield will surely be a problem for the English. There is plenty of experience in the halfback combination. Japan-based flyhalf Quade Cooper will want to hit the ground running, while scrumhalf Nic White is unpredictable around the rucks and his decision-making could prove to be the difference between winning and losing. In the pack, lock Cadeyrn Neville (33) will become the oldest Wallabies player in more than 20 years to make his Test debut. He will not only be called on to help win line-out ball, but also bring some physicality to the forward battle. The other debutant is hooker David Porecki, who also has a key role to play in the scrums and line-outs. Both debutants will have targets on their backs.
For England: Scrumhalf Danny Care will start for the first time since November 2018. He has a cool head on him and he forms a strong halfback combination with Marcus Smith, who is also a Harlequins player. Owen Farrell will be an extra playmaker in the midfield and his kicking game and decision-making will ease the pressure on Smith. Fullback Freddie Steward is one of the best in the business under the high ball and he is also a strong ball runner out wide. In the pack, No.8 Billy Vunipola brings plenty of physicality and aggression, while Tom Curry can be a nuisance at the breakdowns. Hooker Jamie George will look to put some pressure on new boy David Porecki up front.
Head to head
Owen Farrell could have a long outing with Samu Kerevi running at him. Kerevi is a powerful ball-runner, and he will have Farrell and Marcus Smith in his sights. The battle between the two halfback pairings will also have a big spotlight. Cooper has been around the block for years now and he will want to show Smith a thing or two when it comes to the playmaking role. Eddie Jones’ decision to bring in veteran scrumhalf Danny Care has raised a few eyebrows, but that experience is needed against the wily Nic White. In the pack, Wallabies locks Cadeyrn Neville and Darcy Swain will have a massive task on their hands against Maro Itoje and Jonny Hill. Itoje will certainly try and give debutant Neville a tough time.
Last 10 encounters:
2014: England won 26-17, London
2015: Australia won 33-13, London (RWC pool match)
2016: England won 39-28, Brisbane
2016: England won, 23-7, Melbourne
2016: England won 44-40, Sydney
2016: England won 37-21, London
2017: England won 30-6, London
2018: England won 37-18, London
2019: England won 40-16, Oita (RWC Quarterfinal)
2021: England won 32-15, London
Prediction
@rugby365com: Wallabies by three points.
Teams:
Australia: 15 Tom Banks, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Nick White, 8 Rob Valentini, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Rob Leota, 5 Cadeyrn Neville, 4 Darcy Swain, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 David Porecki, 1 Angus Bell.
Replacements: 16 Folau Fainga’a, 17 Scott Sio, 18 James Slipper, 19 Matt Philip, 20 Pete Samu, 21 Jake Gordon, 22 Noah Lolesio, 23 Jordan Petaia.
England: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Jack Nowell, 13 Joe Marchant, 12 Owen Farrell, 11 Joe Cokanasiga, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Danny Care, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Tom Curry, 6 Courtney Lawes (Captain), 5 Jonny Hill, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Will Stuart, 2 Jamie George, 1 Ellis Genge.
Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Mako Vunipola, 18 Joe Heyes, 19 Ollie Chessum, 20 Lewis Ludlam, 21 Jack van Poortlviet, 22 Guy Porter, 23 Henry Arundell.
Date: Saturday, July 2
Venue: Optus Stadium, Perth
Kick-off: 17.55 (10.55 UK time; 09.55 GMT)
Expected weather: It will be clear and sunny with a high of 19°C and a low of 8°C
Referee: James Doleman (NZR)
Assistant Referees: Andrew Brace (IRFU) & Craig Evans (WRU)
TMO: Brendon Pickerill (NZR)
AAP & @rugby365com
