Key events
Predictably, changes for England as they chase the series. Gold Coast Titans full-back AJ Brimson makes his debut at full-back, coming in for Jack Welsby who had a particularly tough time at Wembley last week. Wane stood up for the St Helens man in the aftermath of the first Test, but he has dropped him completely.
Wigan’s Harry Smith takes Mikey Lewis’s starting place at scrum-half, though the Hull KR man is a versatile bench option.
At hooker, Jez Litten comes in for Daryl Clark, while at second row, Kallum Watkins comes in for John Bateman, with Kai Pearce-Paul sliding over from No 12 to No 11.
There’s no place on the bench for either Bateman or Clark this week, with those spots taken by Lewis, St Helens prop Alex Walmsley, who keeps his spot as an interchange option, Canberra second row Morgan Smithies and Leeds prop Mikolaj Oledzki.
Second Test teams
England Brimson; Young, Farnworth, Wardle, Johnstone; Williams, Smith; McMeeken, Litten, Lees, Pearce-Paul, Watkins, Knowles. Interchange Lewis, Walmsley, Smithies, Oledzki.
Australia Walsh; Nawaqanitawase, Staggs, Shibasaki, Addo-Carr; Munster, Cleary; Collins, Grant, Fa’asuamaleaui, Crichton, Young, Carrigan. Interchange Dearden, Smith, Cotter, Koloamatangi.
Preamble
Good afternoon … and good v, v early morning to some distant viewers!
It’s second Test time, and according to the bookmakers – as well as anyone with eyes who watched last week’s opener at Wembley last Saturday – chances are the series could be decided today.
The feeling pre-match last week was that Shaun Wane’s hosts would have to get out of the traps well, get their noses in front, and then dog it out until the final hooter. England managed the first element of that, were game in the opening half-hour, but sagged alarmingly thereafter, with the Kangaroos drawing first blood and just taking the game further and further away. Indeed Wane’s side didn’t get on the scoresheet until they were 26-0 down.
Newsflash to those who were unaware: Australia are a hell of a side. Reece Walsh and Angus Crichton helped themselves to two tries apiece, but the speed and cohesion the whole team showed across the field was, frankly, frightening.
So what hopes today for a series going the distance? Well Wane’s rung the changes, of which more imminently.
The venue is an unknown quantity for anything other than football, and all eyes should be on the first high ball – the wind has a tendency to shimmy without warning by the Mersey, showers are predicted, and all it can take is one spilled ball within your own 20-metre line for momentum to shift …
KO at Hill Dickinson Stadium is 2.30pm GMT, 1.30am AEDT
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