England make just one change for final Test against Australia as Teimana Harrison replaces injured James Haskell in the back-row


EDDIE JONES has made just one change to his starting side to face Australia in the final Test as he goes for the jugular and hunts a 3-0 whitewash.

The England head coach is only without injured James Haskell – so Northampton Saints back-row Teimana Harrison comes in at no.7 to win just his second cap.

Eddie Jones has made just one change for Englands final Test against Australia
Eddie Jones has made just one change for Englands final Test against Australia
Teimana Harrison comes in to the back-row to replace the injured James Haskell
Teimana Harrison comes in to the back-row to replace the injured James Haskell

Jones waited for as long as possible to name winger Jack Nowell in the team after the Exeter Chiefs winger passed his concussion tests after a bang to the head in the Melbourne win.

The Australian coach said: “You have to work extremely hard to earn an England cap so there was no temptation to make changes for the sake of change.

“To play for England you have to be in the best 23 and that’s what this selection represents. Teimana comes into the side at seven for James Haskell whose foot hasn’t quite recovered from Saturday.

“Teimana has trained well throughout the tour and deserves his spot. He’s an excellent defender and his robustness will be important to us at the start of the game. Jack Clifford is unlucky to miss out, but will finish the game for us.

Winger Jack Nowell is available after passing concussion tests
Winger Jack Nowell is available after passing concussion tests
Owen Farrell starts at centre again for England after impressing in the second Test
Owen Farrell starts at centre again for England after impressing in the second Test

“We’ve treated this week like a dress rehearsal for the World Cup because that what we’re always building towards.

“To win a World Cup you have to win three big games in a row – we’ve won two so this third game is the most important game we’ll play all year. It will be a good indication of where we are as a team.

“The players have enjoyed being in Coogee this week and the attitude to training has been absolutely first class. They have been inspired by the challenge of playing better for the last game.

“Credit has to go to the coaching staff, particularly Steve Borthwick, Paul Gustard, Neal Hatley and Glen Ella who have worked tirelessly to keep improving this squad of players.

“We’re looking forward to playing in front of a full house at Allianz Stadium on Saturday and we are confident we can finish the job off with a win.”

England will be hoping for a whitewash series win on Saturday
England will be hoping for a whitewash series win on Saturday
Saracens star Maro Itoje keeps his place in Englands second row
Saracens star Maro Itoje keeps his place in England’s second row
England match-day 23 to face Australia at Allianz Stadium 
15. Mike Brown (Harlequins, 51 caps) 
14. Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 23 caps)
13. Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 24 caps) 
12. Owen Farrell (Saracens, 42 caps)
11. Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 17 caps) 
10. George Ford (Bath Rugby, 25 caps)
9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 60 caps)
1. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 34 caps) 
2. Dylan Hartley (captain, Northampton Saints, 74 caps)
3. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 64 caps) 
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 6 caps)
5. George Kruis (Saracens, 17 caps)
6. Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, 50 caps)
7. Teimana Harrison (Northampton Saints, 1 cap) 
8. Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 28 caps)
Ben Teo will be disappointed not to make the match-day squad
Ben Te’o will be disappointed not to make the match-day squad
Bath ace Anthony Watson keeps his place on the wing
Bath ace Anthony Watson keeps his place on the wing
Replacements
16. Jamie George (Saracens, 7 caps)
17. Matt Mullan (Wasps 12 caps)
18. Paul Hill (Northampton Saints, 4 caps)
19. Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 34 caps)
20. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 48 caps) 
21. Jack Clifford (Harlequins, 7 caps)
22. Danny Care (Harlequins, 61 caps)
23. Elliot Daly (Wasps, 4 caps) 

 

MEANWHILE, Leicester Tigers-bound Matt Toomua has returned to Australia’s side to face England in the Third Test.

The defeated and deflated Wallabies brought back the inside centre as another attacking threat in their back line.

Brummies playmaker Toomua, who will join the Tigers after the Rugby Championship, is one of three changes along with Will Skelton and Rob Simmons.

In-form Smau Kerevi drops out in a surprise move.

Matt Toomua is back in Australia's side to face England
Matt Toomua is back in Australia’s side to face England
Boss Michael Cheika is hoping his side can pull out a performance on Saturday
Boss Michael Cheika is hoping his side can pull out a performance on Saturday

Boss Michael Cheika said: “This Saturday’s match against England is a real opportunity for the Wallabies to show the character I know they have on the field, for all our fans to see.

“We will continue to play rugby in our attacking style and we’ll be aiming to do it with more consistent quality than we have in the first two matches.

“Will Skelton and Matt Toomua are back to full fitness and have worked extremely hard for their opportunity this Saturday.”

Despite going 2-0 down in the series Cheika insist he will continue to pursue a running rugby style and take it to England’s iron-clad defence yet again.

He added: “In some technical issues we haven’t been quite so accurate in the game, but when I sit back and look at the way the games have panned out there are a couple of things that are clear. One, we want to continue to play running footy.

Cheika has confirmed that Will Skelton is back to full fitness
Cheika has confirmed that Will Skelton is back to full fitness
Australia will be out for revenge after losing the first two Tests
Australia will be out for revenge after losing the first two Tests

“It’s part of how we play. Obviously, we have to improve the quality so we can do it consistently because otherwise you leave yourselves open to the games we have had where we’ve played most of the footy and we’ve ended up on the other side of the scoreboard.

“That can happen once every now and then, that situation, and I know you’ve maybe got more room for that in a provincial or club team, but it depends if I’m just coaching to keep my job, or if I’m coaching to have Australian rugby play the type of football that we want to play and go through the difficult bits when it happens and stick at it. That’s what I’m committed to.

“OK, a few losses and all that stuff happens, but I feel like I’ve got big enough shoulders to carry that because I know the way we want to play footy.”

Wallabies team to face England
1. James Slipper – Reds (76 Tests)
2. Stephen Moore (c) – Brumbies (104 Tests)
3. Sekope Kepu – Waratahs (65 Tests)
4. Will Skelton – Waratahs (14 Tests)
5. Rob Simmons – Reds (61 Tests)
6. Scott Fardy – Brumbies (32 Tests)
7. Michael Hooper (vc) – Waratahs (53 Tests)
8. Sean McMahon – Rebels (8 Tests)
9. Nick Phipps – Waratahs (41 Tests)
10. Bernard Foley – Waratahs (29 Tests)
11. Rob Horne (vc)  – Waratahs (31 Tests)
12. Matt Toomua – Brumbies (31 Tests)
13. Tevita Kuridrani – Brumbies (33 Tests)
14. Dane Haylett-Petty – Western Force (2 Tests)
15. Israel Folau – Waratahs (40 Tests)

 

Replacements (One to be omitted) 

Tatafu Polota-Nau – Waratahs (63 Tests)

Scott Sio – Brumbies (17 Tests)

Greg Holmes – Reds (25 Tests)

Adam Coleman (Uncapped)

Dean Mumm – Waratahs (46 Tests)

Wycliff Palu – Waratahs (57 Tests)

Nick Frisby – Reds (2 Tests)

Christian Leali’ifano – Brumbies (17 Tests)

Taqele Naiyaravoro – Waratahs (1 Test)


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