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It’s been a little over two years since the last time the Wallabies faced England. Let me cast your mind back to 2022.
England travelled to Australia for a three-Test tour which took place in Perth, Brisbane and Sydney. Dave Rennie was still at the helm and was up against his eventual successor Eddie Jones. England went on to win the series 2-1 after falling short in the opening game.
While it may not seem like it, two years is a long time in international rugby and both teams have experienced their ups and downs since then; Eddie Jones being the main culprit for both teams in this instance.
Now that England have named their team for the opening game of the Wallabies Grand Slam Tour, I want to bring you back to 2022 to refresh your memory of the last time Australia faced England.
Below is England’s starting team from the third and decisive Test in 2022. I’ve included in brackets where that team is now today.
1. Ellis Genge (starting vs Wallabies)
2. Jamie George (starting vs Wallabies)
3. Will Stuart (starting vs Wallabies)
4. Maro Itoje (starting vs Wallabies)
5. Jonny Hill (currently serving a ten-match ban for altercation with a fan)
6. Courtney Lawes (retired from international rugby)
7. Sam Underhill (in the squad, not part of matchday 23, started July Tests vs NZ)
8. Billy Vunipola (retired from international rugby)
9. Jack van Poortvliet (in the squad, not part of matchday 23)
10. Marcus Smith (starting vs Wallabies)
11. Tommy Freeman (starting vs Wallabies)
12. Owen Farrell (currently unavailable for international selection, playing in France)
13. Guy Porter (retired on advice from medical staff)
14. Jack Nowell (retired from international rugby)
15. Freddie Steward (in the squad, not part of matchday 23)
Steve Borthwick and Jamie George. (Photo by David Ramos – RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Images)
So while this England team has endured some turnover, there is a spine of experience throughout. The biggest change this team has witnessed is the dismissal of Eddie Jones and the hiring of Steve Borthwick, something I touched on in a previous article. Marcus Smith is once again the starting No.10 but there has been chopping and changing since 2022, with Owen Farrell and George Ford spending significant time in the jersey since then.
England’s 2024 record
It’s been a stop-start season so far for England. Finishing third in the 2023 Rugby World Cup was followed by three wins out of five in the Six Nations. However, they did finish the campaign strongly with a win over eventual winners Ireland and an encouragingly close defeat to a Dupont-less France.
A win against Japan steadied the ship but they’ve now lost three Tests against New Zealand on the trot. There were moments of promise in all three, but for England not to be able to rack up even one win through this period is concerning.
The Wallabies are next up for Borthwick’s team? Can they apply more pressure to this England team or has Joe Schmidt’s developing side come at the perfect time?
Wallace Sititi runs at Marcus Smith. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
England’s matchday 23
As mentioned above, Wallabies fans should recognise some familiar faces in this current crop of internationals. Genge, George and Stuart make up England’s front row.
George Martin joins Maro Itoje in the engine room. Itoje is still only 30 years old, despite it feeling like he’s been a thorn in opponent’s sides for nigh on a millennium. A major win for Steve Borthwick’s tenure is the emergence of George Martin. The Leicester man’s aggression and athleticism are the perfect foundation for a new era of England rugby. Ollie Chessum has been ruled out for these November Tests, but when they’re both selected in the same team, England look right back to their best.
Ready for the Wallabies ????
Steve Borthwick has named his match day squad to face Australia this weekend ????@O2 | #WearTheRose
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) November 5, 2024
Chandler Cunningham-South slots in at blindside and was doing his best Courtney Lawes impression with that rib-shaking hit on Tupou Vaa’i at Twickenham. He’s only 21 and if he can continue punching holes in defensive lines at Harlequins, I’ve no doubt the caps will come under Borthwick. Tom Curry returns to the side after a miserable run of injury. He displaces Sam Underhill whose work at the breakdown may have been missed against a charging All Blacks team last week.
Ben Earl was in contention for player of the tournament during the Six Nations. His bite in contact is now a pillar of this English team. The Guardian scored him a 6/10 for his performance against the All Blacks. Seems pretty harsh for a man who made the third most metres for his team, first among forwards, across 17 carries! He completed 14 tackles but missed four. Expect him to “bounce back” versus the Wallabies.
Ben Spencer made his first start at 32 years of age. Spencer has always been electric at club level but has never cemented his spot with England. A terrific start to the year with Bath earned him his shot alongside Marcus Smith and he retains his place for this week.
Too cold ????
Watch the latest episode of O2 Inside Line: This Rose with Ben Spencer now ????@O2 | #WearTheRose
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) November 7, 2024
Unfortunately for Australia, I wouldn’t be surprised if you see Marcus Smith play 80 minutes this week after his early substitution last week. Smith is really beginning to establish a hold on the No.10 jersey after years of battling Ford and Farrell.
Tommy Freeman is back in the team after making his debut in the second Test of that 2022 tour and will be looking to bounce back after a middling performance. On the opposite wing is England’s newest weapon, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso. Feyi-Wabosa is now a key cog in England’s set play and often works as a one-two punch with Ollie Lawrence.
George Furbank rounds out the team and acts as a nice connector between Smith and the rest of the back three.
This is a massive Test for Joe Schmidt and his Wallabies team and I can’t wait to see how they perform at Twickenham.
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