Eddie Jones has turned to old timers Billy Vunipola and Danny Care to help deal with the “really aggressive environment" awaiting England in Australia.
The pair are long-term strangers to the Test arena with scrum-half Care last capped in 2018 and No.8 Vunipola dropped 15 months ago.
But both are in top form and with England in a hole after another dismal Six Nations and Sunday’s stuffing by the Barbarians, Jones feels the time is right to tap back into their 145 caps worth of experience.
“Australia will have really hard, flat tracks and abusive crowds,” warned the head coach, naming a 36-strong squad for the three-Test series.
“They are in your face, the Australians. The media is going to be in our face. They are aggressive. It is a really aggressive environment.
“Australia-England, for Australians, is the biggest tour. I think they’ve sold out every game. It’s going to be huge.
“We’ve gotta go after them and that’s our whole intention.”
Jones has won all eight Tests against the land of his birth since taking charge of England, including a 3-0 sweep of the last series played Down Under in 2016.
But this is a tough ask, with Alex Dombrandt, Sam Simmonds, Kyle Sinckler, Henry Slade, Manu Tuilagi, Joe Launchbury, Anthony Watson, Joe Marler and Ben Youngs all missing.
Jones claims not to see it that way, saying: “This is probably the strongest I have seen an English squad.”
That smacks of wishful thinking given current form and the absence of so many key players. On Sunday they conceded six tries against 14 men.
“That was an England XV side, not a Test match,” Jones countered. “It was a practise match.”
Undoubtedly England will benefit from the power carrying of Vunipola, the only specialist No8 in the squad, providing he shows no ill-affects from the head injury he suffered in Saturday’s Final.
“Consistently for Saracens this season Billy has been close to his best,” said Jones of a 29-year old who has taken a vow of silence to let only his rugby do the talking.
“I thought in the [Premiership] Final he was exceptional. He looked like a Test No8.
“When players have had a lot of success there are some that are continually hungry for success and can’t live without it. Then there are some that sit back a little bit.
“Billy probably sat back a little bit and sometimes it takes a reminder to get them to sit forward a bit more. He’s had that, though I hope he’s not too hungry. He can put on weight!”
On Care, whose brand of rugby lifts the tempo of any team, Jones said: “The hard and fast Australian tracks are for thoroughbreds and will suit Danny.
“If you had your Raceform out and it was muddy you'd say don't back him, but if it's firm get on him. He plays his best on top of the ground. I’ve never seen him in better physical nick.”
England squad to tour Australia
Forwards: Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby), Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers), Jamie George (Saracens), Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers), Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs), Nick Isiekwe (Saracens), Maro Itoje (Saracens), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints), Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks), Patrick Schickerling (Exeter Chiefs), Will Stuart (Bath Rugby), Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby), Billy Vunipola (Saracens), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Jack Walker (Harlequins), Jack Willis (Wasps).
Backs: Henry Arundell (London Irish), Danny Care (Harlequins), Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby), Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints), Owen Farrell (Saracens), Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints), George Furbank (Northampton Saints), Will Joseph (London Irish), Joe Marchant (Harlequins), Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby), Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), Guy Porter (Leicester Tigers), Harry Randall (Bristol Bears), Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers), Marcus Smith (Harlequins), Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers).
Australia v England Tests
1ST (Perth, July 2), 2ND (Brisbane, July 9), 3RD (Sydney, July 16)
