Smith passes his fitness test
England’s autumn opener against Australia on Sunday has its fly-half. Fin Smith came through Friday’s final training session after the calf problem he picked up in Northampton’s defeat to Leicester on October 24, and Steve Borthwick has named him to start at Allianz Stadium. It is the first of four home Tests this month, and Borthwick has changed four players from the XV that beat Argentina 31-24 in July.
The headline return is George Furbank at full-back, his first England appearance in two years after a run of injuries that included a broken arm, concussion and a calf problem. He was named in the side to face South Africa in July but withdrew with appendicitis. Flanker Ben Curry is back after 16 months of injury trouble, Henry Slade takes the 13 shirt and Fin Baxter starts at loose-head ahead of Ellis Genge.
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Pollock on the bench, Ikitau back for the Wallabies
Exeter back-rower Greg Fisilau is in line for a first cap off the bench, where Henry Pollock will cover both wings. Borthwick called this the last chance to face southern hemisphere opposition at home before next year’s World Cup, and said England know the size of the task against a side with plenty of recent Test rugby behind it.
Australia welcome back centre Len Ikitau, who missed the 43-21 loss to New Zealand in Sydney on October 17 with concussion and spent last season at Exeter. Declan Meredith keeps the 10 shirt, Carter Gordon misses the matchday squad altogether, and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii moves to the left wing so rookie Isaac Henry can play outside centre. Taniela Tupou, Rob Valetini and Carlo Tizzano give the bench real power.
Pressure on Borthwick
The backdrop is not comfortable. England finished fifth in this year’s Six Nations, their lowest ever placing, after losing four of five games for the first time. A 45-21 defeat to the Springboks in July was followed by a 73-8 win over Fiji and the narrow success in Argentina. Borthwick has since signed an extension to 2028, yet a loss to Australia or Japan this month would sting. Kick-off is at 3.10pm UK time on Sunday, with Japan next on November 14 and New Zealand on November 21.
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