Lee Dickson to start for England rugby team against Australia at Twickenham

England have picked the Northampton scrum-half Lee Dickson to start against Australia in place of Ben Youngs. Dickson will win his 10th cap alongside Owen Farrell for the first game in England’s three-match autumn international series.

Dickson has been in good form for Northampton this season, and featured for England during their summer tour of Argentina, but the 33-times capped Youngs, started the second Test for the Lions in Australia and would have expected to keep his place.

The wing Marland Yarde, the centre Joel Tomkins and the No8 Billy Vunipola will also make their first starts for England at Twickenham on Saturday in Stuart Lancaster‘s new-look 22-man squad.

The Northampton lock Courtney Lawes will lead the England lineout alongside Joe Launchbury against the Wallabies after Geoff Parling suffered mild concussion earlier this week.

“I’m delighted for Joel,” said England’s head coach, Stuart Lancaster. “He has had a great week’s training and is ready for his chance. He has played in many high-profile games in his career so far and has a great temperament for the big occasion.

“Billy Vunipola and Marland Yarde made a big impression in Argentina and it’s going to be a special occasion for them to run out at Twickenham in front of 82,000 passionate supporters for the first time.

“We are looking forward to the challenge of playing Australia – they have made great strides under Ewen McKenzie and their new coaching team and they are formidable opponents.”

Link to video: Rugby union autumn internationals: ‘a great springboard for England’

England team v Australia

M Brown (Harlequins); C Ashton (Saracens), J Tomkins (Saracens), B Twelvetrees (Gloucester), M Yarde (London Irish); O Farrell (Saracens), L Dickson (Northampton), M Vunipola (Saracens), T Youngs (Leicester), D Cole (Leicester), J Launchbury (Wasps), C Lawes (Northampton), T Wood (Northampton), C Robshaw (Harlequins, capt), B Vunipola (Saracens).

Replacements: D Hartley (Northampton), J Marler (Harlequins), D Wilson (Bath), D Attwood (Bath), B Morgan (Gloucester), B Youngs (Leicester), T Flood (Leicester), B Foden (Northampton)

QBE International, Saturday, 2.30pm, Twickenham, live on Sky Sports 2

Article source: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/rugby-scotlands-injured-cross-miss-rest-south-africa-190721921.html

Lee Dickson to start for England rugby team against Australia at Twickenham