RWC Quarter Final Preview – Australia vs England

Quarter Final 1 of RWC 2019 will see longtime rivals Australia and England battling it out in Oita. Both teams are past RWC champions and have the means of winning a further title in Japan.

Australia Head Coach Michael Cheika has changed up his backline for the Quarter Final. Selected to start at outside center is teenager Jordan Petaia. He had not been born when Australia won the RWC in 1999. Petaia replaces James O’Connor to partner Samu Kerevi in the centers.

Other changes made by Cheika see Will Genia and Christian Leali’ifano starting in the halves. This decision combined with Petaia at outside center and Kurtley Beale at fullback gives Australia multiple play-makers.

Outwide Reece Hodge is back following his three match suspension to join Fijian import Marika Koroibete as the wingers. Missing out is Dane Haylett-Petty.

In the forwards captain Michael Hooper returns at flanker while Allan Alaalatoa is back at tight head in the only other alteration.

England go into the the match fresh. With their match against France cancelled they had a bye last weekend. With it Head Coach Eddie Jones has ore options at his disposal and he has opted to change up his lineup.

Captain Owen Farrell moves from inside center to fly half with George Ford dropping to the bench. This sees Manu Tuilagi playing inside center and Henry Slade elevated to be the starting outside center. Of note is that earlier this year Tuilagi and Slade played regularly together as England’s centers.

In the forwards the enforcer that is Courtney Lawes has been preferred to the lineout expertise of George Kruis. Billy Vunipola has been declared fit and will start at N8. Also fine to play is Mako Vunipola who replaced Joe Marler at loose head prop.

There have been 50 prior test matches between Australia and England. The competitiveness of the rivalry is such that the Wallabies have 25 victories and England 24.

The Europeans go into Saturday’s game having won the last six matches against Australia. ARN predicts that this streak will continue with England favorites to win by 13 points.

 

ENGLAND RWC 2019 RESULTS
W – England 35-3 Tonga
W – England 45-7 USA
W – England 39-10 Argentina
D – England 0-0 France

AUSTRALIA RWC 2019 RESULTS
W – Australia 39-21 Fiji
L – Australia 25-29 Wales
W – Australia 45-10 Uruguay
W – Australia 27-8 Georgia

W – Win
L – Loss
D – Draw

TEAMS

AUSTRALIA
1 Scott Sio, 2 Tolu Latu, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 4 Izack Rodda, 5 Rory Arnold, 6 David Pocock, 7 Michael Hooper (capt.), 8 Isi Naisarani, 9 Will Genia, 10 Christian Leali’ifano, 11 Marika Koroibete, 12 Samu Kerevi, 13 Jordan Petaia, 14 Reece Hodge, 15 Kurtley Beale

Replacements. 16 Jordan Uelese, 17 James Slipper, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Adam Coleman, 20 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 21 Nic White, 22 Matt To’omua, 23 James O’Connor

ENGLAND
1 Mako Vunipola, 2 Jamie George, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 4 Maro Itoje, 5 Courtney Lawes, 6 Tom Curry, 7 Sam Underhill, 8 Billy Vunipola, 9 Ben Youngs, 10 Owen Farrell (capt.), 11 Jonny May, 12 Manu Tuilagi, 13 Henry Slade, 14 Anthony Watson, 15 Elliot Daly

Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Joe Marler, 18 Dan Cole, 19 George Kruis, 20 Lewis Ludlam, 21 Willi Heinz, 22 George Ford, 23 Jonathan Joseph

Date: Saturday, October 19
Kick-Off: 16:15 (00:15 Pacific, 03:15 Eastern, 04:15 Rio de la Plata)
Venue: Oita Stadium, Oita
Referee: Jerome Garces (France)
Assistants: Romain Poite (France), Mathieu Raynal (France)
TMO: Ben Sheen (England)