Fly-half Fin Smith has cleared his calf injury and will start at number 10 for England in their opening autumn Test against Australia on Sunday. The 24-year-old secured his place in the pecking order by overtaking George Ford during this year’s Six Nations, but his availability was in doubt after he was substituted late in Northampton’s defeat by Leicester on 24 October. Smith has started England’s past five matches at fly-half, and his return is crucial for the hosts as they look to control the tempo against the Wallabies.
Smith and Curry lead the line as England aim for a quick start in the Nations Championship.
England’s XV also features a significant return for flanker Ben Curry, who steps into the lineup after a 16-month absence due to injury. Curry’s inclusion is a strategic move to counter Australia’s breakdown specialists, Fraser McReight and Carlo Tizzano, while ensuring a rapid supply of ball to the backline. Notably, his twin brother Tom Curry was ruled out of contention earlier this week following an injury setback in training, making Ben’s availability even more vital for the pack’s stability and defensive structure.
The backline configuration emphasizes speed and attacking width, with Saints teammate Tommy Freeman selected on the wing as a primary target for crossfield kicks. Full-back George Furbank, who can step in as a first receiver, brings valuable experience from his summer move to Harlequins and his previous partnerships with Smith and Freeman. This alignment aims to exploit the gaps in the Australian defense, leveraging the quick ball distribution from Curry to support Smith’s orchestration and the backline’s attacking outlets.
Source: BBC
