South Africa v Wales LIVE rugby: Result and reaction as Damian Willemse kicks Springboks to last-gasp win

James O’Connor burst into the Australian dressing room still holding his suit bundled up in his arms, having been hurriedly called down from the posh seats. He has hastily got his kit and boots on.

Optus Stadium looks well populated, with the temperature in the low teens. It really is a great sporting arena, though the distant stands are perhaps better suited to the more regular cricket and AFL contests held here.

The suggestion is that it is a lower calf issue ailing Cooper. So tough for the veteran ten, who would have loved another chance to spar with England in front of a strong Perth crowd.

My oh my. A disaster for Australia - the talented Noah Lolesio faces a big test, stepping into the starting side at short notice, while James O’Connor is called on to the bench.

A massive late blow for Australia - Quade Cooper is out with that injury!

A visibly excited Jones says: “It’s probably the first time we’ve had the bulk of the squad together since 2019. They are ready to go.

“Henry Arundell has got exceptional pace and a courage about him to attack.

“It’s just a fantastic occasion. There’s a buzz in the city - everyone loves an England-Australia clash.”

His former England captain Dylan Hartley then reveals that Jones is more animated pre-encounters with his compatriots, his language “more fruity”. Can Australia beat Jones’ England for the first time?

Plenty of focus on the individual battle between Quade Cooper and Marcus Smith today, but it is their place in the wider patterns of Australia and England that may be decisive. Australia’s attack is overseen by Scott Wisemantel, so impressive in the same role with England at the 2019 World Cup, and he’ll presumably look to get the ball in Cooper’s hand with heaps of options at the line, encouraging his playmaker to pick his runners. I’d expect Samu Kerevi to be particularly used to get at England’s 10-12 axis of Smith and Owen Farrell, who have had limited time together in England camp with Farrell’s injury and Covid issues over the last 12 months or so.

Ah, hang on - Quade Cooper may have twinged something in the warm-up. We’ll keep an eye on that.

The Australia head coach tells Sky Sports: “To be competitive we will have to go through the middle and be direct. We have got a good maul.

“We are very much focussed on what we have been doing. We have only had a couple of weeks together, but we are going in with a pretty simple gameplan and if we can execute that we will have a good shout. It is certainly not lost on me the history between Australia and England in any sport.”

Sky Sports are rightly devoting some of their build-up time to a discussion of the interview given to the Mail on Sunday by Luther Burrell last weekend, in which the former England centre outlined his experiences of racism in rugby, describing it as “rife”. Full credit to Burrell for being prepared to speak openly - and Courtney Lawes would like those who abused his old teammate to be outded.

Eddie Jones reckons he had as many as fifteen potential tourists unavailable to him when he named his squad for Australia, so it speaks to the depth of English rugby that he is able to put together what looks a starting fifteen of strong construct that has been (for once) warmly received by supporters.

Back in from the cold are Billy Vunipola, influential all year at Saracens after his autumn dropping, and Danny Care, finally rewarded for his late-career resurgence with Jones keen on his ability to attack with quick ball. Care combines with club colleague Marcus Smith, who starts inside Owen Farrell for only the second time for England.

Farrell is back after injury but no longer captain; Courtney Lawes fulfilled the duties well during the Six Nations and retains the role. It is a huge series for Will Stuart with Kyle Sinckler among the absentees, while the bench has a youthful look, particularly among the backs: Jack van Poortvliet, Guy Porter and Henry Arundell all eye debuts.

England: Steward; Nowell, Marchant, Farrell, Cokanasiga; Smith, Care; Genge, George, Stuart; Itoje, Hill; Lawes, Curry, B Vunipola.

Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, M Vunipola, Heyes, Chessum, Ludlam; Van Poortvliet, Porter, Arundell.

Typically a team’s debutants would be among the less experienced members of an international side’s squad, but that is not the case with Australia’s tight five first-cappers. Veterans Dave Porecki (29) and Cadeyrn Neville (33) will relish a chance to mix it at international level, and speak to Dave Rennie wishing to stabilise the set-piece and counter England’s potential up-front biff with a pair of wilier heads. Tighthead Taniela Tupou is absent with a calf injury, but Rob Valetini and Rob Leota each get the chance to build upon strong Super Rugby campaigns in the back row alongside ever-consistent skipper Michael Hooper.

Rennie is permitted three selections from outside Australia, and all start in the backs. It will be hope that the outstanding Samu Kerevi has similarly totemic impact on the side as last year, and Marika Koroibete adds an extra stick of dynamite to a fun backline. Tasked with lighting the fuse will be Quade Cooper, still possessing of all his flicks, tricks and individual gifts but also a wiser soul, who you would suggest is well-suited to the role of chief puppeteer in an attack designed by former England attack coach Scott Wisemantel.

Australia: Banks; Kellaway, Ikitau, Kerevi, Koroibete; Cooper, White; Bell, Porecki, Alaalatoa; Swain, Neville; Leota, Hooper, Valetini.

Replacements: Fainga’a, Sio, Slipper, Philip, Samu; Gordon, Lolesio, Petaia.