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Irish Mirror

Sport

Robert Hynes

What time and TV channel is Australia v England on?

England Australia Owen Farrell Eddie Jones J George Saracens M Itoje Saracens M Vunipola Saracens Ireland All Blacks World Cup

England face Australia in the first of three summer tests in Perth this weekend.

While Ireland are in Auckland to face the All Blacks, Eddie Jones' side are over 5,000 miles away in the Western Australian city.

Ahead of the game, Jones has relieved Owen Farrell of the captaincy in favour of Courtney Lawes, a decision which has infuriated the son of Ireland boss Andy Farrell.

Australia will be hoping to use their dismal run against England as fuel for the series opener.

Since becoming red rose head coach at the end of 2015, Jones has masterminded eight successive victories against the Wallabies, who he coached from 2001 to 2005.

But only one of those has come against Australia’s current boss Dave Rennie.

Here's what you need to know about the game:

Where and when is it?

The match takes place at Optus Stadium in Perth on Saturday, July 2.

What time is kick-off?

The action is scheduled to get underway at 10.55am Irish time.

A general of Optus Stadium (Getty Images)

What channel is it on?

Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports action will both show the game live following Ireland's clash with the All Blacks.

Australia team

T Banks; A Kellaway, L Ikitau, S Kerevi, M Koroibete; Q Cooper, N White; A Bell, D Porecki, A Ala’alatoa, D Swain, C Neville, R Leota, M Hooper (capt), R Valetini.

Replacements: F Fainga’a, S Sio, J Slipper, M Philip, P Samu, J Gordon, N Lolesio, J Petaia.

England team

F Steward (Leicester, 10 caps); J Nowell (Exeter, 39 caps), J Marchant (Harlequins, 12 caps), O Farrell,(Saracens, 94 caps), J Cokanasiga (Bath, 11 caps); M Smith (Harlequins, 10 caps), D Care (Harlequins, 84 caps); E Genge (Leicester, 36 caps), J George (Saracens, 66 caps), W Stuart (Bath, 20 caps), M Itoje (Saracens, 56 caps), J Hill (Exeter Chiefs, 12 caps), C Lawes (C) (Northampton, 93 caps), T Curry (Sale, 40 caps), B Vunipola (Saracens, 61 caps),

Replacements: L Cowan-Dickie (Exeter, 34 caps), M Vunipola (Saracens, 67 caps), J Heyes (Leicester, 2 caps), O Chessum (Leicester, 2 caps), L Ludlam (Northampton, 11 caps), J van Poortvliet (Leicester, uncapped), G Porter (Leicester, uncapped), H Arundell (London Irish, uncapped).

Quotes corner

England head coach Eddie Jones: “Owen is a bloke who expresses his feelings clearly and he wants to be captain. When I told him he wasn’t going to be captain, he wasn’t very happy. But that’s OK.

“Owen’s had a fair while out of the team and at this stage we feel it’s the best thing for the team and for Owen, because he’s a very important player for us.

“He has played 94 Tests for England and he has won every trophy in the world, apart from the World Cup. He’s a pretty fair player and he’s a very important player for us.

“We want Owen to be at his best and he’s been out of the side for a while, so it’s an opportunity for him to play three Tests back to back and produce his best.”

Australia captain Michael Hooper: "It’s been a long time since we’ve played these fellas out here so we’re excited about it.

“History hasn’t been in our favour for quite some time now against the English and we’re keen to rip in.

“This is the top rivalry. Having the Ashes at the back end of last year and this year, the whole of the Australian population gets behind the team whether they’re here or in England.

“It’s about bragging rights so it’s big for the fans and for us. There’s some great history between the two teams.

“They’re always a tough outfit. They’ve picked a powerful team with some real skill and experience. We’re expecting a tough time.

“We just need to get a couple of wins under our belt. In games of these magnitudes, it’s going to go back and forward and we need to stay in the fight, throw and absorb punches, get back on the front foot and attack these guys.”