AUSTRALIA coach Michael Cheika has made four changes to his side for Saturday’s clash against England at Twickenham.

Last week’s 27-24 defeat by Ireland stopped Australia’s bid for a Grand Slam. Now they face an England side who won 3-0 in Australia in June. Thursday saw Cheika recall lock Kane Douglas to the starting XV after he impressed off the bench against Ireland.

Meanwhile back-row Lopeti Timani, wing Sefanaia Naivalu and scrum-half Nick Phipps are all back in the side.

Cheika hopes the powerful Timani can make an impact against an England pack without injured No 8 Billy Vunipola, one of their leading players.

“He (Timani) will give us a lot of punch and strength in attack and defence,” Cheika said. “That extra weight he’s got, his ball carrying and strong defence (is helpful).

“It’s going to be a very physical game and he’s fresh now after a couple of weeks off and ready to go. I think we’ll need that extra grunt in there for this game.”

Lopeti Timani will add ‘grunt’ for the Wallabies. Source: Getty Images

Michael Cheika wants his forwards to set a platform for the backs. Source: Getty Images

As for Douglas, Cheika said: “I thought he had a good second half when he came on (against Ireland).

“He’s been a guy trying to get back to his best form. He’d had a really good training week and I wanted to give him some extended time and get him involved.

“I think he did well and I wanted to reward that.” Similar thoughts lay behind Cheika’s decision to start Naivalu after the wing scored his first Test try barely a minute after coming on as a replacement against Ireland.

“His performances off the bench probably early on reflected a bit of his lack of experience at this level,” Cheika said. “But the more time he’s had the more he’s understood what he needs to do and he looks threatening.”

(L-R) David Pocock, Kane Douglas and Rob Simmons will all start for the Wallabies at Twickenham. Source: Getty Images

Saturday’s match takes place outside the designated World Rugby ‘window’ for end-of-year-Tests.

As a result, scrum-half Will Genia has been recalled by French club Stade Francais, who do not have to release him for international duty this weekend.

Phipps takes over, having been singled out by England during the June series. But Cheika insisted he had no qualms about Phipps’s temperament. “He’ll be fine,” Cheika said. “I thought he’s always done a good job for us. “You say he was targeted in June but I think you can target a halfback (scrum-half) if he’s not getting the platform he needs. Our forwards are very clear that that can’t happen.

Nick Phipps will take Will Genia’s place in the starting line-up. Source: Getty Images

“We need a platform and if Nick Phipps is targeted it’s because of the forwards and not Nick Phipps.

“They go hand-in-hand and I’m not going to be pointing the finger at him for that.” When Australia captain Stephen Moore runs out at Twickenham on Saturday he will make his 117th Test appearance to become the second most-capped Wallaby in history behind former skipper George Gregan.

Dean Mumm and Henry Speight drop down to the bench for a match where centre Tevita Kuridrani will try to become just the second Australian after Wallaby great Mark Ella in 1984 to score a try in every Test on tour against the four Home Unions.

TEAMS

Wallabies: 15. Israel Folau 14. Sefanaia Naivalu 13. Tevita Kuridrani 12. Reece Hodge 11. Dane Haylett-Petty 10. Bernard Foley 9. Nick Phipps 8. Lopeti Timani 7. Michael Hooper 6. David Pocock 5. Rob Simmons 4. Kane Douglas 3. Sekope Kepu 2. Stephen Moore (captain) 1. Scott Sio.

Reserves: 16. Tolu Latu 17. James Slipper 18. Tom Robertson 19. Dean Mumm 20. Sean McMahon 21. Nick Frisby 22. Quade Cooper 23. Henry Speight.

England: 15. Mike Brown 14. Marland Yarde 13. Jonathan Joseph 12. Owen Farrell 11. Jonny May 10. George Ford 9. Ben Youngs 8. Nathan Hughes 7. Tom Wood 6. Chris Robshaw 5. George Kruis 4. Courtney Lawes 3. Dan Cole 2. Dylan Hartley (captain) 1. Mako Vunipola

Reserves: 16. Jamie George 17. Joe Marler 18. Kyle Sinckler 19. Charlie Ewels 20. Teimana Harrison 21. Danny Care 22. Ben Te’o 23. Henry Slade.