Chiefs trio to face Australia

By Mark Stevens
30/6/22

Three Exeter Chiefs players have been named in Eddie Jones’ England squad for their first Test against Australia.

England - who have Jack Nowell and Jonny Hill starting the game -will take on the Wallabies at the Optus Stadium in Perth on Saturday (11am).

Luke Cowan-Dickie, the third Chief in the ranks, starts the game on the bench.

Courtney Lawes has been named captain and starts as blind-side flanker and will be joined in the back-row by Tom Curry and Billy Vunipola, who makes his first appearance for England since March 2021 at No. 8.

In the front row hooker Jamie George joins props Ellis Genge and Will Stuart. Maro Itoje and Hill are locks.

Owen Farrell, whose last appearance for England was in their 32-15 win over the Wallabies in November 2021, returns after injury at inside centre and Joe Marchant is outside centre.

Joe Cokanasiga (left) andNowell (right) are on the wings with Freddie Steward at full-back. At scrum half, Danny Care will start for the first time since November 2018 and Marcus Smith completes the XV at fly half.

Jones said: “We have had very strong preparation for this game. We did some good recovery work in Fremantle and quality training in Perth.

“The squad has come together well since we met up last week. Picking the 23 out of this group of 36 was difficult. We feel we have a well-balanced team which is ready for this improving Australia team. We’ll take it to them from the start.”

Australia v England is live on Sky Sports Main Event with coverage from 10.15am BST.

The teams will then travel to Brisbane for the second Test (Saturday 9 July, 11am BST KO) and then Sydney for the final game (Saturday 16 July, 11am BST KO).

ENGLAND XV TO FACE AUSTRALIA

15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 10 caps)
14. Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 39 caps)
13. Joe Marchant (Harlequins, 12 caps)
12. Owen Farrell (Saracens, 94 caps)
11. Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby, 11 caps)
10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 10 caps)
9. Danny Care (Harlequins, 84 caps)
1. Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 36 caps)
2. Jamie George (Saracens, 66 caps)
3. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 20 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 56 caps)
5. Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs, 12 caps)
6. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, capt, 93 caps)
7. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 40 caps)
8. Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 61 caps)

16. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 34 caps)
17. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 67 caps)
18. Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 2 caps)
19. Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 2 caps)
20. Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 11 caps)
21. Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, uncapped)
22. Guy Porter (Leicester Tigers, uncapped)
23. Henry Arundell (London Irish, uncapped) *apprentice player