Rugby World Cup 2015: Australia vs England preview

Australia will try to solidify their spot heading into the 2015 Rugby World Cup quarterfinals when they face host team England in a pivotal “Pool of Death” match on Saturday at Twickenham Stadium. The Wallabies are looking to reclaim the top spot in Pool A of the RWC when they take on Stuart Lancaster’s side in a match that will determine England’s status heading into the last eight round of the quadrennial tournament.

With Wales now at the top of the pool standings on 13 points and three wins, England is in a must-win situation against Australia. If Australia beats England, Wales will be guaranteed a spot in the quarterfinals. But if the host team wins their showdown against the Wallabies, Wales will have to defeat Australia on Oct. 10.

Australia has started their RWC campaign with convincing results over Uruguay and Fiji, but has left two of the world’s top five rugby union teams later in their RWC pool fixture. While facing England suggests Australia would come up with another mix of lineup, Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has settled to stick with his first-choice starting XV that beat Fiji in their tournament opener.

"We set out with an original plan we wanted to run with and I feel that has happened," Cheika said, reports 9news. "There were a fair few tough selection decisions across the board about what would be the best mix to start the match but we felt the team who played in the first game did a good job and also understood the improvements that needed to be made in the lead-up to this game.”

The Wallabies’ starting lineup will closely resemble the team that won the Bledisloe Cup opener against New Zealand in August, which includes the dynamic tandem of Michael Hooper and David Pocock, who will wear No. 8. Cheika has also opted for a more reliable boot of Bernard Foley over the mercurial Quade Cooper as his five-eighth against England.

Meanwhile, England coach Lancaster has also made significant changes in their starting squad. Lancaster opted for three changes to his starting XV for the crucial match, with the biggest surprise the return of Jonathan Joseph after a chest injury.

Joseph was injected into the starting team, along with Ben Morgan, to replace Sam Burgess, who was dropped back into the bench. Brad Barritt will also return to inside centre, pairing him up with Joseph for the third time in tests.

“JJ (Joseph) and Ben Youngs are both fit and raring to go, as are the rest of the squad for what will be a huge game against a very good team,” Lancaster told the Rugby World’s official website. “England-Australia matches at Twickenham are always massive occasions, this one more than ever, and we want everyone behind us so we can get the result we all want.”

Australia lineup (Courtesy of 9news):

Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani, Matt Giteau, Rob Horne, Bernard

Foley, Will Genia, David Pocock, Michael Hooper, Scott Fardy, Rob Simmons, Kane Douglas, Sekope Kepu, Stephen Moore (capt), Scott Sio. Replacements (three to be omitted): Tatafu Polota-Nau, James Slipper, Greg Holmes, Toby Smith, Sam Carter, Dean Mumm, Sean McMahon, Nick Phipps, Matt Toomua, Kurtley Beale, Drew Mitchell.

England lineup (Courtesy of The Guardian):

Mike Brown, Anthony Watson, Jonathan Joseph, Brad Barritt, Jonny May, Owen Farrell, Ben Youngs, Joe Marler, Tom Youngs, Dan Cole, Joe Launchbury, Geoff Parling, Tom Wood , Chris Robshaw, Ben Morgan Replacements: Rob Webber, Mako Vunipola, Kieran Brookes, George Kruis, Nick Easter, Richard Wigglesworth, George Ford, Sam Burgess

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