Sam Burgess is set to be omitted from England’s starting line-up for Saturday’s must-win World Cup game, with a fit-again Jonathan Joseph returning to the midfield.
It is understood Joseph has made a swifter-than-anticipated recovery from a chest injury and will line up alongside Brad Barritt in the centre against Australia.
Owen Farrell is also poised to retain his place at fly-half, with Burgess reverting to the bench in the wake of last Saturday’s 28-25 defeat to Wales. Joseph and Barritt started together against Fiji in the opening game of the tournament but George Ford was selected at number 10.
With Billy Vunipola out of the tournament and Courtney Lawes still struggling with a knee injury, Ben Morgan will return at number eight and Joe Launchbury will start his first World Cup match in the second-row. England, though, are still waiting on the fitness of Ben Youngs, who has been unable to train fully since hurting an ankle against Wales.
Burgess is set to replace Alex Goode on the bench, with the Saracens lock George Kruis filling the second-row vacancy on the bench.
The rest of the starting line-up is set to be unchanged for a game that will define England’s World Cup future. If Wales beat Fiji in Cardiff, England will have to beat the Wallabies to remain in the tournament.
