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England give Farrell the chop

London - Billy Twelvetrees will start at inside centre for England against Australia on Saturday after coach Stuart Lancaster dropped Owen Farrell and kept faith with George Ford at flyhalf.

Ford, 21, made an assured first start in last week's victory over Samoa, with Farrell looking far less comfortable having been shifted to centre.

Twelvetrees, who was first choice throughout this year's Six Nations before falling out of favour on the New Zealand tour, looked sharp when he came on during the second half last week and made one particularly impressive try-saving tackle.

Lancaster made two other changes as Tom Wood returns for James Haskell at blindside flanker and Dylan Hartley regains the hooker slot from Rob Webber.

Saturday's clash (kick-off 16:30 SA time) is of huge importance to both teams, who have lost twice in the November series and who meet back at Twickenham in the pool stage of next year's World Cup.

Teams:

England

15-Mike Brown, 14-Anthony Watson, 13-Brad Barritt, 12-Billy Twelvetrees, 11-Jonny May, 10-George Ford, 9-Ben Youngs; 8-Ben Morgan, 7-Chris Robshaw (captain), 6-Tom Wood, 5-Courtney Lawes, 4-Dave Attwood, 3-Dave Wilson, 2-Dylan Hartley, 1-Joe Marler

Substitutes: 16-Rob Webber, 17-Matt Mullan, 18-Kieran Brookes, 19-George Kruis, 20-James Haskell, 21-Richard Wigglesworth, 22-Owen Farrell, 23-Marland Yarde

Australia

TBA

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