England A v Australia A - teams and prediction

PREVIEW: Coach Mark Mapletoft confirmed the England A side to take on Australia A at the Twickenham Stoop on Sunday.

Northampton Saints’ Fraser Dingwall captains the team from inside centre and is partnered by Oscar Beard of Harlequins in midfield.

Dingwall is one of four previously capped players in the starting XV and five in total in the matchday 23.

World Rugby Under-20 winners Asher Opoku-Fordjour and Henry Pollock are awarded their first A-Team starts, with the Sale Sharks prop recently joining the squad after training with Steve Borthwick’s England team.

Beard and Harlequins teammate Cadan Murley are two of nine players in the matchday squad that took to the field in February when England A returned to face Portugal, winning 91-5.

“I’d like to thank Conor [O’Shea], Steve [Borthwick] and all the support staff for their incredible effort in the buildup to what promises to be a fantastic occasion at The Stoop,” Mark Mapletoft said.

“Collaboration across the pathway teams has been vital in our processes so far.

“We want the players to seize the opportunity this Sunday, their cohesion and unity in such a short period has been pleasing.

“We have a mix of younger talent, Premiership-quality players and those capped at Test level too – it’s a unique blend that ultimately creates a driven environment, and we’re confident that will show this Sunday.”

* Meanwhile, Brumbies scrumhalf Ryan Lonergan will captain the Australia A side in the Aussie side’s final game of their tour of the UK.

He’s one of a number of changes to the starting side that drew 10-all with Bristol last week, with the full squad of 30 set for game time throughout the tour.

Lonergan will partner England-born Tom Lynagh in the halves, with the latter having made his Wallabies debut earlier this year against Wales in Sydney.

An all-new starting front row will see 20-year-old, Massimo De Lutiis represent Australia for the first time at senior level alongside Reds teammate Josh Nasser and Western Force loosehead prop Harry Hoopert.

New Reds recruit Josh Canham will partner Ryan Smith as the starting locks, in a preview of the Queensland second row depth ahead of next year’s Super Rugby Pacific season.

Joe Brial, son of Wallaby number 712, Michael, has earned a start at No.8 where he will link with Brumbies and Wallabies pair Tom Hooper and Luke Reimer in the loose forward trio.

Last week’s flyhalf Hamish Stewart shifts to his preferred position of inside centre and will partner the Waratahs’ Joey Walton who starts in the 13 jersey, after Josh Flook joined the Wallabies squad in Cardiff.

Crescent Head product Darby Lancaster will get his first minutes in the UK, named on the left edge with fellow flyer Corey Toole shifting to the right wing and Jock Campbell named to start at fullback.

Last week’s starters Lachlan Lonergan, Tom Lambert and Rhys van Nek shift to the replacement front row, with Reds lock Angus Blyth and Brumbies flank Rory Scott the remaining forward cover.

Issak Fines-Leleiwasa and Harry McLaughlin-Phillips are the replacement halves, with the versatile Brumbies back Ollie Sapsford rounding out the matchday 23.

“We had a really valuable hit out against Bristol last week and we’ve trained well again, as we try to build some more cohesion among the group and provide opportunities to those in the squad,” Australia XV coach Rod Seib said.

“To play England A at an iconic ground such as The Stoop is going to be a memorable experience for our players and I know it’s a challenge they’re looking forward to.”

Prediction

@rugby365com: England A by nine points

Teams

England A: 15 Joe Carpenter, 14 Cadan Murley, 13 Oscar Beard, 12 Fraser Dingwall (captain), 11 Gabriel Ibitoye, 10 Charlie Atkinson, 9 Will Porter, 8 Tom Willis, 7 Henry Pollock, 6 Tom Pearson, 5 Arthur Clark, 4 Hugh Tizard, 3 Joe Heyes, 2 Gabriel Oghre, 1 Asher Opoku-Fordjour.
Replacements: 16 Curtis Langdon, 17 Emmanuel Iyogun, 18 Afolabi Fasogbon, 19 Rusi Tuima, 20 Greg Fisilau, 21 Archie McParland, 22 Jamie Shillcock, 23 Will Muir.

Australia A: 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Corey Toole, 13 Joey Walton, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Darby Lancaster, 10 Tom Lynagh, 9 Ryan Lonergan (captain), 8 Joe Brial, 7 Luke Reimer, 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Josh Canham, 4 Ryan Smith, 3 Massimo de Lutiis, 2 Josh Nasser, 1 Harry Hoopert.
Replacements: 16 Lachlan Lonergan, 17 Tom Lambert, 18 Rhys van Nek, 19 Angus Blyth, 20 Rory Scott, 21 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 22 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 23 Ollie Sapsford.

Date: Sunday, November 17
Venue: Twickenham Stoop, London
Kick-off: 14.00 (14.00 GMT; 00.00, Monday, November 18 Australian time)
Referee: Eoghan Cross
Assistant referees: RFU appointment, Joe James
TMO: RFU appointment