Manu Tuilagi named on England bench for final autumn international Test against Australia

Leicester Tigers centre Manu Tuilagi is set to make his first appearance for England in over two years after he was named on the bench for the final autumn international game against Australia to be played at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday.

A groin injury kept Tuilagi out of the first three games of the November series but now has made sufficient recovery to return to the national fold for what could be his first appearance since March 2016.

Meanwhile Eddie Jones has made nine changes to the line-up that defeated Japan with Owen Farrell replacing George Ford at fly-half and Danny Care's position at scrum-half being taken by Ben Youngs.

Dylan Hartley will remain on the bench with Jones preferring Jamie George as hooker while Brad Shields and Sam Underhill return to back-row pushing Mark Wilson to number eight. Injury to Jack Nowell and Chris Ashton means Joe Cokanasiga gets another chance at right wing after his debut against Japan where he scored a try.

Courtney Lawes will partner Maro Itoje in second-row while props Ben Moon and Kyle Sinckler are on either side of George. Nathan Hughes, who recently returned from a ban will provide impact from the bench.

"We've picked our best 23 for the Australia game," said Jones. "We know they have a unique style of attack so our ability to defend that is going to be important.

"We are continually working on our strengths which is our set piece and our defence and they are areas that are progressing nicely.

"I'm really happy with the direction we're going in terms of the way we play the game. We are developing a unique style of rugby, which is English and the players are proud to play that way."

The last time Wallabies defeated England was during the 2015 World Cup and since then the red rose team has gone on to win five games against Australia including a 3-0 series win in June 2017.

England: Elliot Daly, Joe Cokanasiga, Henry Slade, Ben Te'o, Jonny May, Owen Farrell (c), Ben Youngs; Ben Moon, Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler, Maro Itoje, Courtney Lawes, Brad Shields, Sam Underhill, Mark Wilson.

Replacements: Dylan Hartley, Alec Hepburn, Harry Wilson, Charlie Ewels, Nathan Hughes, Richard Wigglesworth, George Ford, Manu Tuilagi.