LONDON (AP) — England will unleash a new midfield axis in the rugby test against fierce rival Australia on Saturday after selecting Marcus Smith and Owen Farrell for the match at Twickenham.

Smith is widely regarded as England's future flyhalf star and was picked at No. 10 for his fourth cap. That pushed Farrell back into the centers, where he will start alongside Henry Slade, leading to coach Eddie Jones moving power runner Manu Tuilagi onto the wing.

Jones wanted to start Smith and Farrell at 10-12 against Tonga last weekend, but Farrell was forced out by an eventual false-positive test for the coronavirus, while Smith came off the bench in the second half and played well after being limited in training by an unspecified leg injury. Tonga was routed 69-3 to start England's autumn campaign.

Slade and Tuilagi impressed in the centers so have been retained, albeit in a reshuffled back division.

Lock Maro Itoje will make his 50th appearance for England as part of an unchanged pack.

Prop Bevan Rodd, brought in as cover for Joe Marler after his positive COVID-19 test, and versatile back Raffi Quirke could make their England debuts after being named on the bench.

Australia has problems in the front row, with regular starters Allan Alaalatoa and Taniela Tupou ruled out with concussion symptoms after knocks to their heads in the 15-13 loss to Scotland on Sunday.

Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has been forced to switch James Slipper to tighthead, where he will start at international level for the first time since 2012. He filled in there against Scotland.

Angus Bell is at loosehead and Tom Robertson and the uncapped Ollie Hoskins are in the reserves.

“With a six-day turnaround (Alaalatoa and Tupou) needed to be right by Monday with no symptoms basically. They woke up fine but as the day progressed, once you get a little bit of a headache they were out," Rennie said.

With Jordan Petaia also sidelined because of a hamstring injury, Andrew Kellaway will revert to his usual position on the wing and Kurtley Beale will make his return at fullback.

“Playing England at a packed Twickenham is one of the toughest assignments in test rugby but we’re excited by that,” Rennie said.

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Lineups:

England: Freddie Steward, Manu Tuilagi, Henry Slade, Owen Farrell (captain), Jonny May, Marcus Smith, Ben Youngs; Tom Curry, Sam Underhill, Courtney Lawes, Jonny Hill, Maro Itoje, Kyle Sinckler, Jamie George, Ellis Genge. Reserves: Jamie Blamire, Bevan Rodd, Will Stuart, Charlie Ewels, Alex Dombrandt, Sam Simmonds, Raffi Quirke, Max Malins.

Australia: Kurtley Beale, Andrew Kellaway, Len Ikitau, Hunter Paisami, Tom Wright, James O'Connor, Nic White; Rob Valetini, Michael Hooper (captain), Rob Leota, Izack Rodda, Rory Arnold, James Slipper, Folau Fainga’a, Angus Bell. Reserves: Tolu Latu, Tom Robertson, Oliver Hoskins, Will Skelton, Pete Samu, Tate McDermott, Noah Lolesio, Izaia Perese.

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