Australia v England LIVE rugby: Result and reaction as England keep series alive with win

Courtney Lawes has called for patience as England rebuild for next year’s World Cup by rolling the dice in selection for Saturday’s second Test against Australia.

Eddie Jones has undertaken a radical revamp of the back line for the attempt to keep the series alive at Suncorp Stadium by giving debuts to centre Guy Porter and wing Tommy Freeman, as well as a first start to scrum Jack van Poortvliet.

The fourth and final change to the side dispatched 30-28 in Perth sees Sam Underhill replace Tom Curry, whose tour has been ended by concussion.

Jones hopes Porter and Freeman, who have been picked at the expense of Joe Marchant and Joe Cokanasiga, will provide the ball-carrying threat in midfield and finishing expertise out wide that were missing from the first Test.

England’s head coach has risked the wrath of fans by continuing to identify France 2023 as the ultimate aim, even as his team bid to avoid crashing to a series defeat in a match he describes as “the perfect practice for the World Cup”.

Lawes insists senior red rose players fully support the direction of travel, despite Jones’ scattergun approach to selection, while stressing that progress will take time.

“Just because we have a new team and a new strategy, and are trying to find our DNA as a team, because we’ve got so many new players doesn’t mean that we don’t feel like we’re good enough to beat Australia. We certainly do,” England’s captain said.

“We’re going to do everything we can to make sure we win the series. But at the same time, yes, we’ve had the conversation that we’re making these changes for a reason.

“We think it will open up our potential and we’ll be a better team for it. Maybe not now, it’s going to take time to get there and we are going to have patience.

“We are going to go through ups and downs, that’s for sure. But as long as we’re building towards an end product which is in the forefront of our minds, that is the main thing for us.

“Off the field we’re as tight a team as I’ve ever been a part of in an England jersey. That is 100 per cent genuine. Because of that we’re all on the same page.”

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Ireland have struck back against New Zealand - can England do likewise against Australia? Surprisingly, a squaring of the series was not the prominent thought emanating from their camp in Brisbane last week, with Eddie Jones again looking to the future:

So much for building cohesion – another week, yet more combinations to be bedded in as Eddie Jones again shuffles his backs. There are two debutants in from the start, plus Jack Van Poortvliet, who appeared only briefly seven days ago.

Those two debutants are Tommy Freeman and Guy Porter, each on the back of standout seasons for Northampton and Leicester respectively. Freeman has the pace, power, nous and aerial skill to cause Australia issues, while former Sydney University captain Porter cuts some of the sharpest lines in the Premiership. Van Poortvliet, meanwhile, is Marcus Smith’s fourth starting half-back partner of the year.

Tom Curry has touched down in Manchester having been sent home after suffering another concussion in the First Test, so in steps the other so-called Kamikaze Kid, with Sam Underhill bracing for breakdown battle.

The late change is on the England bench. Jack Willis trained fully yesterday but has been troubled by a rib injury, dropping out of the 23. In comes another debutant - Will Joseph makes two apprentices on the bench for England, awaiting a debut in the backs with Eddie Jones reverting to a traditional 5-3 split.

England: Steward; Nowell, Porter, Farrell, Freeman; Smith, Van Poortvliet; Genge, George, Stuart, Itoje, Hill, Lawes (captain), Underhill, B Vunipola

Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, M Vunipola, Heyes, Chessum, Ludlam; Care, Joseph, Arundell.

There is late team news to bring you news of, but not for the hosts.

Victory may have been Australia’s last week but it was a tough evening in Brisbane injury-wise, with Dave Rennie forced to make significant changes. Out from the starting side last week go Allan Alaalatoa (concussion), Darcy Swain (suspended), Len Ikitau (calf), Andrew Kellaway (hamstring) and Tom Banks (broken arm) – and Quade Cooper remains absent, too, after his oh-so-late withdrawal from the First Test.

In better news for Rennie, Taniela Tupou is fit to play and starts at tighthead, while Matt Philip is promoted in the second row. The hard-hitting Hunter Paisami forms a punchy partnership in the centres with Samu Kerevi, and Jordan Petaia and Tom Wright come in to the starting back three. Long-limbed Nick Frost will make his debut if he gets on at lock from the bench.

Australia: Petaia; Wright, Paisami, Kerevi, Koroibete; Lolesio, White; Bell, Porecki, Tupou, Philip, Neville, Leota, Hooper (captain), Valetini

Replacements: Fainga’a, Sio, Slipper, Frost, Samu, Gordon, O’Connor, Perese

Heavens. We could fill the rest of the day discussing all that ocurred on a day of history for Ireland, but there’s barely time to draw breath on this long day of rugby, so it is time to swiftly move on.

Plenty more reaction to come on Ireland’s squaring of the series in Dunedin, but we must swiftly hop across the Tasman to Brisbane, where kick-off is fast approaching...

“I’m just so pleased for the players because they are so desperate to inspire people back home. They keep turning up time and again and doing special things for Irish rugby and the Irish people.

“It had a bit of everything, didn’t it? It was a courageous effort. If you go back to the start of the time, you know that the All Blacks always come out fast, but we hit the ground running straight from the start again. We didn’t get sucked in, we kept playing the right game and applying the right pressure. I’m so proud of them.

“We went down to 14 and scored a try ourselves. The main thing is we are learning how to deal with the pressures of a top-level game. Our composure is really good. Things aren’t always going to go right for you. We got what we deserved.

“These lads have created a bit of history, but they’ve earned the right to compete for a series next week.”

“I’m very tired, to be honest. It is obviously very emotional, creating a bit of history today, but the job is not done. The series is tied at one apiece. I can’t be more proud of the work that the lads have put in to bounce back from last week. It’s hard to put into words to be honest.

“It’s an incredible group of lads to work with. We’ll give the supporters something to cheer about next week.

“We’ve created a bit of history today, but it’ll be even sweeter if we can force the win next week as well. We’ll throw everything at it.”

Four wins in seven now for Ireland against New Zealand after going 111 years without beating the All Blacks. They really should have seized this encounter in the first half, but the clarity and intent with which they re-emerged after half-time meant they were always firmly in control after the interval.

To pick just three standouts, Peter O’Mahony again proved a big-game talisman, Tadhg Beirne carried with relentless venom and Bundee Aki had real impact after replacing Garry Ringrose.

Well, that sets up the series decider rather nicely. History for Ireland, a first ever win in New Zealand and one thoroughly deserved: Andy Farrell’s side dominated virtually from start to finish amid the chaos of a disastrous evening for the All Blacks, who lose for the first time at Forsyth Barr Stadium.

It didn’t all go right for Ireland, but the duck is broken, the psychological barrier lifted and they will have every chance in Wellington next Saturday.

“The game was disrupted a bit and we missed some moments, but we are unbelievably delighted with the win,” Sexton tells the host broadcaster.

“We’ve got a fantastic coaching team. We felt we didn’t give the best account of ourselves last week.

“The key playing against the All Blacks is that you can never sit back. They’ve got some outstanding players, they are the best team in the world for a reason.

“14 against 14 at the start of the half, to score a try was huge. We are delighted with the win but we have the chance to win the series here and they don’t come along that often.”