Wing Cokanasiga, who scored five tries in eight Gallagher Premiership games last term, starts on the wing after a try-scoring return to the international scene versus the Barbarians.

The 24-year-old holds an impressive record for Eddie Jones’ side with 11 tries in as many caps.

Prop Will Stuart earns his second consecutive England start from tighthead after featuring in all five of his country’s 2022 Guinness Six Nations matches. He will add to his 20 international caps to date while Sam Underhill is back on the flank.

Head Coach Jones said: “We have had very strong preparation for this game. We did some good recovery work in Fremantle and quality training in Perth.

“The squad has come together well since we met up last week.

“Picking the 23 out of this group of 36 was difficult. We feel we have a well-balanced team which is ready for this improving Australia team. We’ll take it to them from the start.”

Australia v England is live on Sky Sports Main Event with coverage from 10:15 BST.

The teams will then travel to Brisbane for the second Test (Saturday 9 July, 11:00 BST kick-off) and then Sydney for the final game (Saturday 16 July, 11:00 BST kick-off).

England team to take on Australia

15 Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 10 caps)
14 Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 39 caps)
13 Joe Marchant (Harlequins, 12 caps)
12 Owen Farrell (Saracens, 94 caps)
11 Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby, 11 caps)
10 Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 10 caps)
9 Danny Care (Harlequins, 84 caps)
1 Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 36 caps)
2 Jamie George (Saracens, 66 caps)
3 Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 20 caps)
4 Maro Itoje (Saracens, 56 caps)
5 Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs, 12 caps)
6 Courtney Lawes (C) (Northampton Saints, 93 caps)
7 Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 40 caps)
8 Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 61 caps)

Replacements

16 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 34 caps)
17 Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 67 caps)
18 Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 2 caps)
19 Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 2 caps)
20 Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 11 caps)
21 Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, uncapped)
22 Guy Porter (Leicester Tigers, uncapped)
23 Henry Arundell (London Irish, uncapped) *apprentice player

Cokanasiga and Stuart set to take on Australia

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