England's Eddie Jones brings No 8 Billy Vunipola and scrum-half Danny Care back after prolonged absences, as duo start vs Australia on Saturday, live on Sky Sports Action from 10.15am (10.55am KO); Owen Farrell starts at centre alongside fly-half Marcus Smith; Courtney Lawes captain
Friday 1 July 2022 11:23, UK
Billy Vunipola and Danny Care have returned to start for England in their opening Test vs Australia on Saturday, live on Sky Sports, with Owen Farrell and Marcus Smith paired together.
Courtney Lawes retains the captaincy from blindside flanker despite Farrell's return to the side in the midfield, with Tom Curry completing the back-row alongside the skipper and Vunipola.
Care returns to play for England for the first time since a November 2018 Test vs Japan, while Billy Vunipola makes his first England appearance since the 2021 Six Nations.
Leicester full-back Freddie Steward, Exeter wing Jack Nowell, and Bath's Joe Cokanasiga start in the backs, as Jonny May fails to make the squad after testing positive for Covid-19 in Australia.
Harlequins centre Joe Marchant starts alongside Farrell and behind an all-Quins half-back pairing of Smith and Care.
Bristol-bound loosehead Ellis Genge, Saracens' Jamie George and Bath's Will Stuart make up the front-row, while Saracens' Maro Itoje and Sale Sharks-bound Jonny Hill form the second-row unit.
Among the replacements Luke Cowan-Dickie, Mako Vunipola and Joe Heyes provide front-row cover, while back-rows Ollie Chessum and Lewis Ludlam are both named.
All three back replacements are uncapped in Jack van Poortlviet, Guy Porter and Henry Arundell.
"We have had very strong preparation for this game. We did some good recovery work in Fremantle and quality training in Perth," head coach Jones said.
"The squad has come together well since we met up last week.
"Picking the 23 out of this group of 36 was difficult. We feel we have a well-balanced team which is ready for this improving Australia team. We'll take it to them from the start."
England: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Jack Nowell, 13 Joe Marchant, 12 Owen Farrell, 11 Joe Cokanasiga, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Danny Care; 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Jamie George, 3 Will Stuart, 4 Maro Itoje, 5 Jonny Hill, 6 Courtney Lawes (c), 7 Tom Curry, 8 Billy Vunipola
Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Mako Vunipola, 18 Joe Heyes, 19 Ollie Chessum, 20 Lewis Ludlam, 21 Jack van Poortlviet, 22 Guy Porter, 23 Henry Arundell.
Analysis from Sky Sports News' Eleanor Roper in Perth...
"It was the England captaincy that had everyone talking at Thursday's squad announcement. Eddie Jones has decided to stick with Courtney Lawes, that's despite the return of his predecessor Owen Farrell. When asked about Farrell's reaction to the news, Jones told reporters he was 'very unhappy'.
"It's hardly a surprise. Farrell has now captained his country 34 times. As he returns to the squad, Jones says the focus must now be on playing his best rugby. So, should we infer from that that Farrell wasn't playing his best rugby as captain? No, says Jones.
"Chatting to Farrell's team-mates, he is a leader, regardless of whether or not he's given the title. Jones made clear to reporters that this captaincy decision is one for the summer tour. Adding that the door is very much still open for Farrell to lead the side down the line. Captaincy for next year's Rugby World Cup, it seems, is still up for grabs.
"Other headlines were the return of Danny Care to the starting XV. He lines up alongside Harlequins team-mate Marcus Smith, although don't expect them to play for England like they do at Quins, Jones says. Billy Vunipola also returns at No 8.
"Three uncapped players are named on the bench. Among them, apprentice Henry Arundell following his world-class try for London Irish earlier this season. Jones likened him to a young Brian Habana."
As well as showing England in Australia this summer, Sky Sports will show Ireland's five-match tour of New Zealand, Wales' three-Test tour of South Africa and Scotland's three-Test tour of Argentina.
Saturday, July 2
New Zealand vs Ireland - live on Sky Sports Action from 7:30am (kick-off at 8:05am)
Australia vs England - live on Sky Sports Action from 10:15am (kick-off at 10:55am)
South Africa vs Wales - live on Sky Sports Action from 3:30pm (kick-off at 4:05pm)
Argentina vs Scotland - live on Sky Sports Action from 7:30pm (kick-off at 8:10pm)
Saturday, July 9
New Zealand vs Ireland - live on Sky Sports Action from 7:30am (kick-off at 8:05am)
Australia vs England - live on Sky Sports Action from 10:15am (kick-off at 10:55am)
South Africa vs Wales - live on Sky Sports Action from 3:30pm (kick-off at 4:05pm)
Argentina vs Scotland - live on Sky Sports Action from 7:30pm (kick-off at 8:10pm)
Tuesday, July 12
Maori All Blacks vs Ireland - live on Sky Sports Action from 8am (kick off is at 8.05am)
Saturday, July 16
New Zealand vs Ireland - live on Sky Sports Action from 7:30am (kick-off at 8:05am)
Australia vs England - live on Sky Sports Action from 10:15am (kick-off at 10:55am)
South Africa vs Wales - live on Sky Sports Action from 3:30pm (kick-off at 4:05pm)
Argentina vs Scotland - live on Sky Sports Action from 7:30pm (kick-off at 8:10pm)
