Bristol Bears star Harry Randall has gone from being named an England vice-captain against the Barbarians to not being included in the matchday 23 for a second week running in Australia as head coach Eddie Jones has named his side to face the Wallabies in Brisbane on Saturday.
Jones has opted to hand Leicester Tigers' scrum half Jack van Poortvliet his first international start after a try scoring cameo off the bench in England's 30-28 defeat in the opening game of the three-Test series.
Veteran Danny Care has been named on the bench to cover scrum half with Jones also handing debuts to Northampton's Tommy Freeman on the left wing and and Leicester's Guy Porter at outside centre.
Randall, 24, has six caps for England but had a dismal day at the office in England's 21-52 defeat to the Barbarians last month.
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In the only change to the forwards pack. Bath's Sam Underhill is at open-side flanker in place of Tom Curry who is out of the tour after suffering a concussion in the first Test. There is no place in the squad for Bristol's uncapped forward Sam Jeffries who flew out last week as an injury replacement for Bath lock Charlie Ewels.
Jones said: “We have decided to make changes in our back line, they were tough calls but we feel they will strengthen the team. There are opportunities to attack against Australia which we can take.
“We have had solid preparation this week and looking forward to an important game in Brisbane.
“This game is the perfect practice for the World Cup and our focus is putting on our best performance.”
Discussing his selection at scrum half, Jones said: “Jack’s an exciting young player. He’s got good command of the forward pack, good communication skills, a good kicking game and a fast pass. We believe that Danny will be useful in the last 20 or 30 minutes of the game."
Porter replaces Joe Marchant at outside centre and Freeman ousts the underperforming Joe Cokanasiga on the left wing.
Jones explained: “We believe this is the future of the team going forward and we feel those players are ready.
“We always try to make sure that young players are ready to play and we believe that both Guy and Tommy are ready to play.
“We’ve made the changes to the backline looking to get a bit more punch in how we play. We felt that we didn’t take opportunities as they availed themselves against Australia in the last game.
“Porter plays with a lot of punch, he takes the line on and he gets between defenders well. The way Australia defends you’ve got to be able to do that,” Jones said.
“Freeman finds the ball. We wanted our back three to be in the game more last weekend and we feel that Freeman is the type of guy who can find the ball.
“Both of them are even-keeled, they get on with the job. They have trained really well in the time we’ve had them.”
FULL SQUAD
ENGLAND XV
15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 11 caps)
14. Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 40 caps)
13. Guy Porter (Leicester Tigers, uncapped)
12. Owen Farrell (Saracens, 95 caps)
11. Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 11 caps)
9. Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 1 cap)
1. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 37 caps)
2. Jamie George (Saracens, 67 caps)
3. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 21 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 57 caps)
5. Jonny Hill (Sale Sharks, 13 caps)
6. Courtney Lawes (C) (Northampton Saints, 94 caps)
7. Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 28 caps)
8. Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 62 caps)
FINISHERS
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 35 caps)
17. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 68 caps)
18. Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 3 caps)
19. Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 3 caps)
20. Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 12 caps)
21. Jack Willis (Wasps, 3 caps)
22. Danny Care (Harlequins, 85 caps)
23. Henry Arundell (London Irish, 1 cap) *apprentice player
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