England take on Australia in the second Test in Brisbane this morning, desperately in need of a victory.
The tourists are battling to save the three-match summer series down under after their terrible run of form in 2022 continued with a 30-28 loss in Perth last Saturday.
The Wallabies withstood the first-half sending off for Darcy Swain for a headbutt on fellow lock Jonny Hill to complete a remarkable comeback that finally ended their eight-match losing streak against England teams coached by native Australian Jones.
CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW AUSTRALIA VS ENGLAND LIVE!
Defeat at Optus Stadium was England’s fourth in succession and the latest example of them failing to take advantage of a numerical advantage in terms of personnel.
They were embarrassed 52-21 by the 14-man Barbarians in a non-cap fixture at Twickenham last month, having also won only two of their five Six Nations games for the second successive year to heap more pressure on Jones, who is set to remain in place until after next year’s World Cup in France but quickly needs a morale boost for his squad.
Australia vs England date, kick-off time and venue
The second Test between Australia and England takes place today on Saturday July 9, 2022 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Queensland.
The match is slated for a 10:55am BST kick-off.
How to watch Australia vs England
TV channel: In the UK, Australia vs England will be shown live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Action, with coverage beginning at 10:15am.
Live stream: Subscribers can also watch the action unfold live online using the Sky Go app.
Live coverage: You can follow the game on Saturday morning with Standard Sport’s LIVE match blog.
Australia vs England team news
Jones has gambled on his team selection for this do-or-die clash, with debuts for Northampton wing Tommy Freeman and Leicester centre Guy Porter, who replace Joe Cokanasiga and Joe Marchant respectively.
Tigers scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet makes his first start in place of Danny Care after a try-scoring debut cameo off the bench in Perth, while Tom Curry - off the tour due to concussion - makes way on the openside for Sam Underhill, who wasn’t in the squad last week.
England have reverted to a 6:2 bench split, with London Irish starlet Henry Arundell again a replacement despite his own debut try off the bench last weekend.
The oft-debated Marcus Smith/Owen Farrell axis remains, with Jack Willis also coming into the matchday squad. Jonny May remains sidelines due to the lingering effects of Covid.
Australia have been decimated by injuries, with head coach Dave Rennie making seven changes from the first Test.
‘Tongan Thor’ Taniela Tupou is back from a calf injury and replaces Allan Alaalatoa at tighthead prop, with the latter suffering a head injury in Perth. The suspended Swain is replaced in the second row by Matt Phillip.
The Japan-bound Tom Banks broke his arm in the first Test and Andrew Kellaway has a hamstring injury, meaning a start at full-back for Jordan Petaia, who scored off the bench last week.
Tom Wright and Hunter Paisami also come in, with Len Ikitau out. There is still no place for former rugby league star Suliasi Vunivalu, with Noah Lolesio preferred to James O’Connor at fly-half following his first-Test performance with Quade Cooper (calf) still missing with the injury he sustained in the warm-up.
Nick Frost is poised to make his Australia debut from the bench, with Izaia Perese also drafted in as a replacement.
Australia vs England lineups
England XV: Steward; Nowell, Porter, Farrell, Freeman; Smith, Van Poortvliet; Genge, George, Stuart, Itoje, Hill, Lawes (c), Underhill, B Vunipola
Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, M Vunipola, Heyes, Chessum, Ludlam, Willis, Care, Arundell
Australia: Petaia; Wright, Paisami, Kerevi, Koroibete; Lolesio, White; Bell, Porecki, Tupou, Philip, Neville, Leota, Hooper (c), Valetini
Replacements: Fainga'a, Sio, Slipper, Frost, Samu, Gordon, O'Connor, Perese
Australia vs England prediction
This is must-win territory for England, who are reeling amid a dismal run of form and growing sense of disillusionment among the rugby public with Jones’ tenure.
They started with confidence in Perth and dominated after the interval, but could not provide the cutting edge needed to break the resolve of Australia’s 14 men and paid a heavy price.
Jones has rolled the dice on the selection front and will be desperate for Freeman and Porter to quickly justify their surprise selections.
Australia will be in buoyant mood after their first-Test comeback but lack continuity with so many injuries, which could well prove their undoing here.
England to win by a narrow margin and tee up a delicious winner-takes-all series decider in Sydney next weekend.
Australia vs England head to head (h2h) history and results
Australia’s first-Test win snapped an eight-match losing streak against Jones’ England, their first win over their old rivals since they confirmed their humiliating exit from a home World Cup in 2015 at the pool stage.
The all-time record now stands level at 26 wins apiece from 53 matches, with one solitary draw.
However, it is worth noting that Australia have won all of their last 10 Tests at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
Australia vs England betting odds
Australia to win: 8/11
England to win: 5/4
Draw: 22/1
England to win and each team to score two or more tries: 5/2
