Overview
- Kick-off is 3:10pm GMT at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, to launch England’s four-Test autumn slate.
- England’s 23 features 12 British & Irish Lions with a six-strong forward bench designed for second-half impact, including Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Tom Curry.
- George Ford starts at fly-half ahead of Fin Smith and Marcus Smith, rookie flanker Guy Pepper is picked in the back row, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso returns on the wing and Henry Pollock is poised for a bench debut this autumn.
- Australia name Tane Edmed at fly-half and Harry Wilson as captain but lack Europe-based standouts such as Will Skelton, Len Ikitau, James O’Connor and Tom Hooper due to the non-window date.
- Reports say Steve Borthwick raised Australian breakdown entries with referee Nika Amashukeli, a claim Wilson dismissed as whinging, while betting lists England as clear favourites at around 3/10.