Itoje Leads England's Returning Core Against Australia at Twickenham

Steve Borthwick has turned to experience and returning fitness as England open their home Nations Championship campaign against Australia at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, on Sunday 8 November. The head coach named his team on Friday 6 November, with captain Maro Itoje back to lead the side, fly-half Fin Smith passed fit after a calf scare, and George Furbank restored at full-back for his first Test appearance since November 2024. The match, for the Ella-Mobbs Cup, kicks off at 15:10 GMT and begins a run of four consecutive home fixtures for England in the inaugural Nations Championship.

Smith passed fit to steer England

Fin Smith starts at fly-half after passing the fitness tests required to clear the calf issue that had left him touch-and-go for the opening fixture of November. The Northampton Saints playmaker has started each of England's past five Tests, and his availability is a major boost for Borthwick, who can name almost the same backline that started the win over Argentina in July. Smith, who holds 19 caps, is partnered at half-back by Leicester Tigers scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet, who has 27 caps and started all three summer Tests. George Furbank is the sole change to that backline, coming in at full-back to join Tommy Freeman and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso in the back three. Henry Slade and Seb Atkinson continue their centre partnership, with Borthwick resisting the temptation to start recent returners Will Joseph and Joe Marchant in midfield.

Itoje, Curry and Baxter return to the pack

The bulk of England's changes come in the pack, where Borthwick welcomes back three players after their respective absences from the Test side. Maro Itoje returns as captain, having not featured in England's summer campaign, and the Saracens lock will partner Alex Coles in the second row. Itoje brings 102 caps to a side that has missed his leadership and lineout authority, and his return sets the tone for a forward effort built around physicality and set-piece control. Fin Baxter returns at loose-head prop after an injury-enforced absence, joining vice-captain Jamie George and Joe Heyes in the front row, while Ben Curry is restored at openside flanker for his first England start in more than a year. Curry, who missed most of last season through a hamstring injury, joins Ben Earl and Ollie Chessum in the back row, with Chessum also named as a vice-captain. George, on 113 caps, provides vast experience at hooker, and Earl, with 54 caps, carries the ball-carrying threat from number eight.

A 6-2 bench built for the final quarter

Borthwick has opted for a forward-heavy 6-2 split among the replacements, underlining how much of this contest he expects to be decided up front. Uncapped Exeter Chiefs back-row forward Greg Fisilau is the headline name on the bench, in line for a Test debut after earning his place through his performances for Exeter and in the training environment. Borthwick said the coaching group were delighted for Fisilau, describing him as a powerful, athletic player who brings real energy to the team. Will Stuart also returns to the matchday squad after a lengthy period of rehabilitation, alongside Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, George Martin and Henry Pollock among the forwards. Ben Spencer and Marcus Smith provide the backline cover, with Spencer called up after Alex Mitchell was ruled out for the whole of November with the hamstring injury he suffered playing for Northampton against Gloucester on 31 October.

Why this opener matters for England

England arrive at Twickenham under pressure after finishing fifth in the 2026 Six Nations and losing five of their past seven Tests, and Borthwick has framed November as a defining block. Australia are a talented side who have played a significant amount of Test rugby in recent months, and the head coach said England know the challenge that awaits them and are looking forward to it. He added that the players are excited to be playing in front of their home supporters and to start an important block of games. The fixture carries added weight because, in Borthwick's words, this will also be the last opportunity to face southern hemisphere opposition at home before the World Cup next year. A convincing win over the Wallabies would steady a side searching for consistency and give the returning leaders a platform to build on.

Australia await as Twickenham run begins

The Round 4 fixture is the first of four consecutive matches at Allianz Stadium, with England facing Japan and New Zealand in Rounds 5 and 6 before the Nations Championship Finals Weekend from Friday 27 to Sunday 29 November. Pierre Brousset of France will referee Sunday's match, with Nika Amashukeli and Jérémy Rozier as assistant referees. England's fixtures will be broadcast live on ITV1 in the United Kingdom, and the home crowd will expect a fast start from a team that has named its strongest available side. For Itoje, Smith, Curry, Baxter and Furbank, the occasion is a return to the Test arena after time away; for Fisilau, it could be the start of an international career. England need the returning core to deliver immediately, because Australia will not wait for them to find their rhythm, and the opening whistle at Twickenham will show whether this refreshed selection can turn a difficult year into a strong November.