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Cheika names unchanged Wallaby team for England clash

London - Australia coach Michael Cheika named an unchanged starting XV to take on England but then admitted he had a doubt over the fitness of star lock Adam Coleman.

The impressive second row suffered a thumb injury during Australia's 29-21 win over Wales in Cardiff last week, calling into question his place in the side for Saturday's match at Twickenham.

But with the Wallabies looking to end a run of four straight defeats against an England side coached by former Australia boss Eddie Jones, Cheika decided to include Coleman.

"He is not 100 percent," Cheika told reporters after unveiling his side on Thursday.

"I would be lying if said he was 100 and you know I never lie.

"I would say he got through today pretty good, better than I thought, and we would not pick him if we did not think he could do his job.

"He is a tough lad."

Australia will be seeking to record their first win over England since knocking them out of the 2015 World Cup with a 33-13 pool victory at Twickenham.

For all their undoubted back-line flair, Cheika knows it is up front that the Wallabies must gain the edge if they are to defeat England this weekend.

"They are a big side, strong. They are a very powerful side, they will try to bully us around. Traditionally, that's the way their game has gone. They try to bully us," Cheika said.

"The fact they are unified behind that strategy means we are going to have to look them in the eye and take them on if we are going to be able to resist that," he added.

Back-row forward Michael Hooper will captain an Australia side in which prop Sekope Kepu is set to win his 90th cap.

Former skipper and seasoned hooker Stephen Moore -- due to retire from Test rugby at the end of the tour -- could become the seventh-most capped player of all time with 128 if he comes off the bench.

Kick-off is at 16:30 SA time.

Teams

England

15 Anthony Watson, 14 Jonny May, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Owen Farrell, 11 Elliot Daly, 10 George Ford, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Nathan Hughes, 7 Sam Underhill, 6 Chris Robshaw, 5 Courtney Lawes, 4 Joe Launchbury, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Dylan Hartley (captain), 1 Mako Vunipola

Substitutes: 16 Jamie George, 17 Joe Marler, 18 Harry Williams, 19 Maro Itoje, 20 Sam Simmonds, 21 Danny Care, 22 Henry Slade, 23 Semesa Rokoduguni

Australia 

15 Kurtley Beale; 14 Marika Koroibete, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 Reece Hodge; 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Will Genia; 8 Sean McMahon, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 Ned Hanigan; 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Rob Simmons; 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Scott Sio

Substitutes (one to be omitted, 16-24): 16 Stephen Moore, 17 Tom Robertson, 18 Allan Alaalatoa, 19 Matt Philip, 20 Ben McCalman, 21 Lopeti Timani, 22 Nick Phipps, 23 Karmichael Hunt, 24 Henry Speight

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