England rugby coach Eddie Jones has recalled veteran halfback Danny Care to the starting side for their deciding Test against the Wallabies on Saturday.
Eddie Jones has reinstated veteran halfback Danny Care as England look to put the Wallabies to the sword in the Test series decider in Sydney on Saturday night.
Care has come back into the starting XV at the expense of youngster Jack van Poortvliet, who helped engineer an England victory in Brisbane to level the series.
Care started in the series opener in Perth two weeks ago, and will bring big game experience with the Ellis-Mobb trophy on the line at the SCG.
But it's a surprise given 21-year-old van Poortvliet was one of the visitors' best at Suncorp Stadium.
Jones said it wasn't a demotion for van Poortvliet but a change in their game plan.
"It's just a change of order," Jones said on Thursday.
"We feel in the first part of the game Danny will be at his best and JVP will have a huge role for us finishing at the end.
"Danny's sharp around the ball and particularly with Paul Williams, a referee who's very hard on the tackler rolling away, feel there might be some quick ball at the start of the game which he can take advantage of."
In other changes, lock Ollie Chessum will make his starting debut with Maro Itoje unavailable after a head-knock, while Lewis Ludlam is the new starting openside flanker with Sam Underhill also suffering concussion.
Back-rower Nick Isiekwe could make his first appearance in the series after being included in the reserves.
Guy Porter, who captained Sydney University and only shifted from the Brumbies squad to play in England at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, has been retained at outside centre.
Jones and his team were keen observers of rugby league State of Origin decider in Brisbane and wanted rugby to regain its status as a talking point Australia.
"I think it's great for rugby that we've got a decider," he said.
"We've seen how big the decider was in the State of Origin and how it's captivated fans and we want to put on a display with Australia of similar ilk.
"You know, a really good tough game of rugby played at a historic ground and light rugby up a bit."
ENGLAND: Freddie Steward, Jack Nowell, Guy Porter, Owen Farrell, Tommy Freeman, Marcus Smith, Danny Care, Billy Vunipola, Lewis Ludlam, Courtney Lawes (capt), Jonny Hill, Ollie Chessum, Will Stuart, Jamie George, Ellis Genge. Reserves: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Mako Vunipola, Joe Heyes, Nick Isiekwe, Jack Willis, Jack van Poortvliet, Will Joseph, Henry Arundell.
