Eddie Jones has rolled the dice for England’s must-win Test against Australia in Brisbane on Saturday, giving debuts to wing Tommy Freeman and centre Guy Porter, and handing Jack van Poortvliet his first start at scrum-half.
Australia have won their last 10 Tests at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, and hold a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, after winning 30-28 in Perth last weekend.
Jones has responded to this tight spot by making four changes, just one of them forced, to his starting XV, and switching to a 6-2 bench, declaring the game “perfect practice for the World Cup”.
Jones has brought three rookies into his backline. Van Poortvliet, 21, made a try-scoring debut off the bench in Perth, and starts ahead of Danny Care, who had been recalled after four years away. Van Poortvliet did not even make the matchday 23 for Leicester’s Premiership final last month, but now starts for England.
It is the three-quarters that sees the most seismic change. The midfield axis of Marcus Smith and Owen Farrell is retained, but Joe Marchant is harshly dropped for Leicester’s Porter at outside centre, while Northampton’s Freeman comes in for Joe Cokanasiga. Jonny May remains sidelined by Covid.
“We have decided to make changes in our back line, they were tough calls but we feel they will strengthen the team,” said Jones. “There are opportunities to attack against Australia which we can take.”
At 21, Freeman can operate in various positions in the backs, but starts on the right wing. He excelled in adversity at full-back in the non-cap match against the Barbarians at Twickenham last month.
Porter, 25, was born in London before spending time in Australia, where he captained Sydney University and signed with the Brumbies. He returned to Leicester and was outstanding in their title-winning season this year.
Jones has made one change up front, with Sam Underhill replacing Tom Curry at openside. Curry has flown home after suffering concussion in Perth.
On the bench, flankers Jack Willis and Lewis Ludlam both wait to be unleashed, as does Henry Arundell, the London Irish teenager who scored a brilliant try late on debut last week.
