Fin Smith: Fitness boost for England as fly-half given green light to face Australia with Henry Pollock on bench for Australia clash
Fin Smith will steer England through their crucial autumn opener against Australia on Sunday after completing his recovery from a calf problem.
Smith starts at fly-half after coming through Friday's final training session of the week in a major boost for Steve Borthwick's side entering the first of their four Tests at Allianz Stadium this month.
Borthwick has made four changes to the XV that defeated Argentina 31-24 in July, with George Furbank returning at full-back having been ruled out against the Pumas because of appendicitis.
It will be Furbank's first England appearance for two years following a savage run of injuries, including a broken arm, concussion and calf issue.
The Harlequins playmaker was included in the starting XV named against South Africa in July but was forced to withdraw because of the appendicitis that ended his tour without playing a minute.
Flanker Ben Curry makes his Test return after an injury-hit 16 months, with Henry Slade chosen at outside centre.
Fin Baxter, who only recently returned from a 10-month foot-injury lay-off, is the starting loose-head prop, ahead of Ellis Genge, while Exeter back row Greg Fisilau is poised to win his first cap after being named on the bench alongside Henry Pollock, who will be on standby to cover wings Tommy Freeman and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso.
"Australia are a talented side who have played a significant amount of Test rugby in recent months. We know the challenge that awaits us and we're looking forward to it," said Borthwick.
"We're excited to be playing in front of our home supporters and to start an important block of games. This will also be our last opportunity to face southern hemisphere opposition at home before the World Cup next year."
England XV: 15. George Furbank; 14. Tommy Freeman, 13. Henry Slade, 12. Seb Atkinson, 11. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso; 10. Fin Smith, 9. Jack van Poortvliet; 1. Fin Baxter, 2. Jamie George, 3. Joe Heyes, 4. Maro Itoje, 5. Alex Coles, 6. Ollie Chessum, 7. Ben Curry, 8. Ben Earl.
Replacements: 16. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17. Ellis Genge, 18. Will Stuart, 19. George Martin, 20. Greg Fisilau, 21. Henry Pollock, 22. Ben Spencer, 23. Marcus Smith.
Former Exeter star Len Ikitau returns for Australia after missing the Wallabies' most recent outing - a 43-21 defeat by New Zealand in Sydney on October 17 - because of concussion but has recovered in time for Sunday's showdown.
The blockbusting 28-year-old centre is well known in England after completing a successful season at Exeter in 2025-26, helping the Chiefs reach the Gallagher Prem final.
Declan Meredith continues at fly-half with Carter Gordon left out of the matchday 23 altogether while Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii shifts to the left wing to accommodate Test rookie Isaac Henry at outside centre.
Australia have included forwards Taniela Tupou, Rob Valetini and Carlo Tizzano on a bench packed with power.
"The entire squad has travelled well and prepared with fantastic energy and excitement heading into this weekend," Wallabies head coach Les Kiss said.
"Playing England on their home turf - at an iconic venue like Twickenham - is a massive challenge and another great opportunity for us to test ourselves against world-class opposition and keep building our game."
Australia XV: 15. Tom Wright; 14. Max Jorgensen, 13. Isaac Henry, 12. Len Ikitau, 11. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii; 10. Declan Meredith, 9. Ryan Lonergan; 1. Angus Bell, 2. Billy Pollard, 3. Allan Alaalatoa, 4. Josh Canham, 5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 6. Jeremy Williams, 7. Fraser McReight, 8. Harry Wilson.
Replacements: 16. Billy Pollard, 17. Isaac Kailea, 18. Taniela Tupou, 19. Rob Valetini, 20. Carlo Tizzano, 21. Tate McDermott, 22. Ben Donaldson, 23. Filipo Daugunu.
England headed into July's Nations Championship Tests off the back of the worst Six Nations showing in their history.
From five fixtures, they lost four for the first time ever, suffering a first Test defeat against Italy, as well as a record home loss to Ireland by a 42-21 margin at Twickenham.
They lost to Scotland for the fifth time in six years as the wheels well and truly came off a championship campaign that began with a comfortable victory over a poor Wales side at home.
A last-gasp defeat to France in Paris on the final day left England fifth in the standings for the first time, for their lowest-ever finish.
Travelling to the southern hemisphere in July, England were in a position where they likely had to win two of their three Tests or else face substantial change.
Ahead of those games, the RFU came out and backed Borthwick through to the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia following what was described as "a challenging" Six Nations review, but the head coach was and is acutely aware he badly needs an uptick in performances and results.
A daunting trip to face the Springboks at Ellis Park saw England dispatched 45-21, but they salvaged the summer with a 73-8 mauling of Fiji and then a 31-24 win in Argentina they just about secured.
Despite England's recent poor results and inconsistency under Borthwick, news has since emerged he has signed a contract extension to 2028, with the RFU seeking to avoid uncertainty over his future.
But under Borthwick, England have now had four Six Nations campaigns, failing to win silverware in all of them - championship title or Triple Crown.
A lack of consistency, porous defence, uninventive or error-strewn attack and overwhelming indiscipline in terms of cards has generally characterised Borthwick's time in charge, for all that the players at his disposal are clearly talented.
Back on home soil, defeats to Australia or Japan this November would constitute a disaster at this stage, while England must attack and challenge New Zealand in their third Test of the month.
Borthwick and his squad still pose more questions than answers, currently.
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6 of November 2026
