Centres Under Spotlight as England Prepare for Clash Against Australia
As England gears up to face Australia at Twickenham on Saturday, all eyes are on the midfield, particularly England’s Ollie Lawrence and Australia’s young rugby league convert, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii. England’s assistant coach Richard Wigglesworth addressed this critical lineup on Thursday, highlighting a small but potentially impactful positional change as England looks to bounce back from their recent narrow defeat to New Zealand.
In the upcoming match, Lawrence will shift to outside centre, with Henry Slade moving to inside centre. Wigglesworth described this as a “slight tweak” rather than a complete overhaul, noting that Lawrence and Slade have interchangeable styles. The move is intended to maximize Lawrence's strengths as a powerful strike runner, allowing him more opportunities to break through Australia’s defense.
Reflecting on the All-Blacks match, Wigglesworth acknowledged that Lawrence was largely starved of possession, limiting his usual impact. “We know he’s a great strike runner for us, but it wasn’t clean. We’re trying to get him on the ball in as much space as possible,” he explained. With this adjustment, Wigglesworth hopes to see Lawrence more engaged and creating openings for England.
Adding intrigue to the matchup is Australia’s decision to start 21-year-old Suaalii, who will make his senior union debut after converting from rugby league. This choice has garnered significant attention, with Wigglesworth expressing cautious admiration. He praised Australia’s coach Joe Schmidt for making the bold move, suggesting that a coach of Schmidt’s caliber wouldn’t place Suaalii in such a high-pressure role unless he felt the player was ready. “He’s an incredible athlete and talent,” Wigglesworth noted, adding that England’s coaching team, including Kevin Sinfield, has studied Suaalii’s rugby league footage to prepare.
Another key concern for England heading into this match is discipline. In their recent loss to New Zealand, England's discipline waned, with penalties increasing in the latter stages and ultimately contributing to their defeat. “Discipline. We’ve given opponents too many chances,” Wigglesworth said, pointing to costly late-game penalties that allowed the All-Blacks to capitalize and turn an eight-point deficit into a two-point victory. This marks the fourth time in five matches that England has struggled to hold onto a lead, an issue the team is determined to address.
The upcoming match holds additional pressure given England’s recent trend of narrowly missed victories. Last week, George Ford’s late penalty hit the post, costing England what could have been a crucial win. Wigglesworth reflected on the slim margins that define elite-level rugby: “That’s sport because we’re sat here having a very different conversation... those are the highs and lows, that’s why we all turn up and we all love it.”
With a renewed focus on discipline and a minor adjustment to their midfield, England will be looking to assert their style of play and contain Australia’s rising star. This high-stakes matchup promises intensity and drama, as both sides seek to reinforce their game and claim victory at Twickenham.
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