Preview: Australia vs England third Test
Everything you need to know ahead of England's clash with Australia in the third test on Saturday.
England will be aiming to secure just their second ever series win in Australia when they take on the Wallabies in the decider at the Sydney Cricket Ground this Saturday.
- When? Saturday, 16 July
- Kick-off? 11am BST
- Where? Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
- Coverage? Watch on Sky Sports Main Event, listen on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra, and follow on England Rugby Instagram and Twitter
Eddie Jones has made three changes to the starting lineup that won 25-17 in Brisbane last weekend to level the series. Ollie Chessum comes in to earn his first start in an England shirt, replacing Maro Itoje who is ruled out with concussion. Lewis Ludlam slots in at open-side flanker in the absence of Sam Underhill. Danny Care returns to the starting XV at scrum half as the only change in the back line and Nick Isiekwe is set to make his first appearance in the series off the bench.
Dave Rennie has brought in Reece Hodge at full back in place of Jordan Petaia and Harry Wilson is in at six for Rob Leota who drops to the bench. Former NRL star Suli Vunivalu is in line for his first Test appearance off the bench while James Slipper starts in the front row pushing Angus Bell to the replacements and Scott Sio out of the match day squad.
England celebrated their fourth win in five Test matches Down Under last weekend to set up an enticing decider in Sydney. Jones' men needed a winning performance to keep the series alive at Suncorp Stadium after Australia snapped an eight-game losing streak the week before and got the result they were looking for after a stunning first half display proved enough to see them through.
In the 113 year history of this rivalry, 54 Test matches have been played with Australia claiming 26 victories and England 27 with one draw. With such fine margins separating the sides in the history books as well as on the pitch in the first two Tests, the third and decisive clash between these two on Saturday is shaping up to be another titanic tussle. Both sides will have to dig deep for bragging rights though as injuries to key personnel have tested each squad's depth to their limits; the performances off the bench could ultimately decide the outcome and set up a thrilling finale.
The hosts will be determined to tie the English victory tally and with it wrap up the series while Jones looks to claim his tenth win over the Wallabies as England head coach and secure a historic second consecutive series win in Australia for the first time ever.
Teams
England
15. Freddie Steward, 14. Jack Nowell, 13. Guy Porter, 12. Owen Farrell, 11. Tommy Freeman, 10. Marcus Smith, 9. Danny Care, 1. Ellis Genge, 2. Jamie George, 3. Will Stuart, 4. Ollie Chessum, 5. Jonny Hill, 6. Courtney Lawes (C), 7. Lewis Ludlam, 8. Billy Vunipola.
Finishers
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17. Mako Vunipola, 18. Joe Heyes, 19. Nick Isiekwe, 20 Jack Willis, 21. Jack van Poortlviet, 22. Will Joseph, 23. Henry Arundell.
Australia
15.Reece Hodge, 14. Tom Wright, 13. Hunter Paisami, 12. Samu Kerevi, 11. Marika Koroibete, 10. Noah Lolesio, 9. Nic White, 8. Rob Valetini, 7. Michael Hooper (C), 6. Harry Wilson, 5. Matt Philip, 4. Nick Frost, 3. Taniela Tupou, 2. David Porecki, 1. James Slipper.
Replacements
16. Folau Fainga’a, 17. Angus Bell, 18. Allan Alaalatoa, 19. Rob Leota, 20. Pete Samu, 21. Tate McDermott, 22. Len Ikitau, 23. Suliasi Vunivalu.
Views from camp
Billy Vunipola: "He said he wanted me to find my best version of myself and it was a tough time. At the time I disagreed with him but looking back now he was right. I’ve never really believed in psychologists before but after talking to Eddie I felt I needed someone to tell me the honest truth. The reason I started playing rugby was because I liked the game: running into people, tackling people, getting up and mentally toughing it out. That probably got lost.
"One of our first conversations was me complaining about being relegated with Saracens. He basically just said: ‘What can you do about it?’ I said: ‘Nothing.’ Then he said: ‘What can you do about your rugby?’ I was like: ‘Everything.’ He then said I’d climbed up the mountain and got to where I wanted while everyone else is still climbing. He basically said: ‘If you stop now, you will regret it for the rest of your life. If you carry on, who knows what could happen?’ Looking back, I’m very glad the last year happened because the hunger came back. When I’m playing I’m like a basketballer. I like to talk rubbish but back it up with my actions. I felt I did that in the second Test but I reckon I’ll be better this week.”
Jamie George: "How exciting is it to be in a 1-1. Watching the State of Origin got the juices going the other night, we saw the intensity of that game and if we can replicate anything like that then we'll be alright. We're aware they're going to take it up a notch but we almost want that because when teams ramp it up a bit we seem to step up too. We know Michael Hooper and Dave Rennie will be pumping those guys up, getting steam coming out their ears, we need to be aware they're a hurt animal and we know the sort of reaction that gets."
Forwards Coach Matt Proudfoot: "The guys are on it for this game, it's 1-1, it's all to play for. It's shaping to be a real humdinger. England rugby has always been aggressive, in your face, on the front foot and the pack did that for 30 minutes of the first half. You never want to take intensity like that away from a player like Genge. He's got great intensity, an unbelievable future ahead of him, he's a leader in the group and I think he's been maturing fantastically throughout the season.
Danny Care: "It's been amazing, everything I'd hoped and dreamed it would be if I did get a chance to get back in,. A brilliant set of lads, great coaches, unbelievable backroom staff who are working incredibly hard. To be back training with the England boys and most importantly representing my country again has meant the world to me so I'm just trying to enjoy every minute and try to add to the team wherever I can.
"We were a lot better in the second Test, we learned our lessons from that first Test and we know we're going to have to go up a few more if we want to win on Saturday because we know Australia will raise their game. Like we did from Test one to Test two they will do the same and hopefully that will bring out the best in us and raise ours even further because we know that we're just scratching the surface of how good this team can be. We're here to do a job and going home 2-1 would be an amazing feeling and an amazing thing to hopefully springboard this team to further success next year."
Owen Farrell: "We've come to Australia to play in a big rival, not only in rugby but in sport, so to have a chance to play in an exciting series that's going to the wire is obviously a brilliant thing to be a part of. This tour has been massively different in loads of ways. The squad's different, the way we're trying to play is different and we all feel like we're going in the right direction but, in a good way, we've got a load more in us, I'm looking forward to taking another step in that direction on Saturday."
Previous encounters
9 July 2022: Australia 17-25 England - Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
2 July 2022: Australia 30-28 England - Optus Stadium, Perth
13 November 2021: England 32-15 Australia - Twickenham Stadium, London
19 October 2019: England 40-16 Australia - Oita Stadium, Oita, Japan
24 November 2018: England 37-18 Australia - Twickenham Stadium, London
18 November 2017: England 30-6 Australia - Twickenham Stadium, London
3 December 2016: England 37-21 Australia - Twickenham Stadium, London
25 June 2016: Australia 40-44 England - Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
18 June 2016: Australia 7-23 England - Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne
11 June 2016: Australia 28-39 England - Lang Park, Brisbane
Key stats
Australia have won five of their last six matches on home soil but will be aiming to avoid back to back home defeats for the first time since losing three in a row in 2018.
Australia have won just one of their last five matches after winning five in a row previously; they have gone on to lose on the last eight occasions that they have trailed their opposition at half-time.
Samu Kerevi has scored a try in three of his last four appearances with Australia, as many tries as in his previous 29 appearances with the Wallabies combined.
Australia have beaten more defenders than any other Tier 1 nation during this year’s July Test matches (48).
England have won nine of their last 10 games against Australia including five of their last six clashes in Australia; eight of England’s nine wins in that run have come by more than seven points.
England have won just one of their last four games after winning seven of their previous eight; they have scored one try or fewer in five of their last seven matches after scoring at least two in each of their previous nine.
England have stolen more opposition lineouts than any other side since the beginning of 2022 (7); additionally, they have gained at least 12 more metres from mauls than any other Tier 1 nation during the July Test matches (48m).
No player has made more carries during the July Tests than England’s BIlly Vunipola (26); teammate Jack Nowell ranks second for defenders beaten amongst players from Tier 1 nations over the last two weeks (9).
