Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Fin Smith will steer England through their crucial autumn opener against Australia on Sunday after completing his recovery from a calf problem.
Smith starts at fly-half after coming through Friday’s final training session of the week in a major boost for Steve Borthwick’s side entering the first of their four Tests at Twickenham this month.
Borthwick has made four changes to the XV that defeated Argentina 31-24 in July, with George Furbank returning at full-back having been ruled out against the Pumas because of appendicitis.
It will be Furbank’s first England appearance for two years following a savage run of injuries, including a broken arm, concussion and calf issue.
The Harlequins playmaker was included in the starting XV named against South Africa in July but was forced to withdraw because of the appendicitis that ended his tour without playing a minute.
In another shot in the arm for an England team reeling from five defeats in eight Tests in 2026, Fin Baxter starts at loosehead prop at the earliest opportunity having been out for 11 months because of a foot problem that required two surgeries.
The highly-rated front row comes in for Ellis Genge, who drops to the bench, and there are two further changes to the pack with the return of second row Maro Itoje and openside Ben Curry.
England team:
George Furbank, Tommy Freeman, Henry Slade, Seb Atkinson, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Fin Smith, Jack van Poortvliet, Fin Baxter, Jamie George, Joe Heyes, Maro Itoje, Alex Coles, Ollie Chessum, Ben Curry, Ben Earl.
Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Will Stuart, George Martin, Greg Fisilau, Henry Pollock, Ben Spencer, Marcus Smith.
