England bulking to overpower Australia
England is ready to address the power deficit by unleashing the Polynesian giants against the Australian team on Saturday with Joe Cokanasiga and Billy Vunipola ready to start. With the absence of Manu Tuilagi due to injury interruption, Eddie Jones is taking all necessary steps to add a replacement to his position for the series opener at Optus Stadium.
The Wallabies will pose a route one threat by unleashing Samu Kerevi in the midfield position while visitors are planning on returning in the same manner when it comes to the ball-carrying. Cokanasiga will start on the wing in the first Test, earning his first cap since playing against USA and Canada. The Bath wing had to contend with more than the fair share of setbacks, with the latest being the chronic damage to his knee which kept him out of the action for several months. He has hit the ground running with a try spree upon his return to the struggling team, scoring for England in the pre-tour defeat against Barbarians.
Fiji-born Cokanasiga should start on one wing with Jack Nowell on the other. Jones will be in the back line with Harry Randall at scrum-half and Marcus Smith will resume the 10-12 alliance with Owen Farrel who was quickly out of the competition because of an ankle injury. Joe Marchant will likely be outside of the center and Freddie Steward at full-back. Jamie George, Ellis Genge, and Will Stuard will be upfront, while Maro Itoje, Courtney Lawes, and Tom Curry will be the shoo-ins for XV.