Martin Johnson names England squad to face Australia
England head coach Martin Johnson has announced his starting line-up for Saturday’s second autumn international against Australia, naming one change from the team that lost against New Zealand last weekend.
Northampton Saints hooker Dylan Hartley will replace Leeds Carnegie’s Steve Thompson for the Wallabies Test at Twickenham. The 24-year-old made a big impact as a substitute against the All Blacks, coming off the bench to score the host's only try of the match.
Meanwhile, Simon Shaw of London Wasps will return to the 22-man squad after recovering from injury - taking the place of Gloucester’s David Attwood.
There had also been speculation that uncapped Northampton flanker Tom Wood would start the match ahead of captain Lewis Moody, who was allegedly headbutted by Keven Mealamu last weekend, but the 32-year-old skipper has made a full recovery to start against Australia.
It will be the fifth consecutive match that Moody has captained the 2003 World Cup winners. Back in June, he led England to a 21-20 victory over the Wallabies in Sydney, to seal Johnson’s best result since becoming the national team’s head coach.
Johnson will start 13 of those players who lined-up against Australia in the last match between the two sides, but the visitors will feel they have a score to settle at HQ.
Mike Tindall and Shontayne Hapewill continue their partnership in the centre, while Toby Flood retains the No. 10 shirt.
The England head coach was left both “encouraged and frustrated” after the New Zealand defeat and has warned his players to avoid complacency this weekend.
However, they have their work cut out to beat a revitalised Australia. Robbie Deane’s side recorded a convincing 25-16 victory over Wales last Saturday and beat the All Blacks with a dramatic, last-minute kick at the end of last month in Hong Kong.
England: B Foden (Northampton); C Ashton (Northampton), M Tindall (Gloucester), S Hape (Bath), M Cueto (Sale); T Flood (Leicester), B Youngs (Leicester); A Sheridan (Sale), D Hartley (Northampton), D Cole (Leicester), C Lawes (Northampton), T Palmer (Stade Francais), T Croft (Leicester), L Moody (Bath, capt), N Easter (Harlequins).
Replacements: S Thompson (Leeds), D Wilson (Bath), S Shaw (Wasps), H Fourie (Leeds), D Care (Harlequins), C Hodgson (Sale), D Armitage (London Irish).
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