Eddie Jones gambles against Australia as Freeman and Porter start for England

Eddie Jones has rolled the dice for England’s do-or-die clash with Australia on Saturday by handing debuts to Guy Porter and Tommy Freeman as well as a first start to Jack van Poortvliet. Jones has made four changes to the side that went down 30-28 in Perth – three in the backs – with Sam Underhill also replacing the injured Tom Curry.

Porter’s inclusion is arguably the most eye-catching given he was raised in Australia and went to Sydney university before committing to England – the place of his birth – following his emergence with Leicester. He was an unused replacement in the first Test but comes into the side at outside-centre with Joe Marchant dropped from the 23 entirely.

The 21-year-old Freeman, meanwhile, comes in on the left wing for Joe Cokanasiga. Freeman has been in excellent form for Northampton this season but missed out on the 23-man squad in Perth. Jones has resisted the temptation to start the 19-year-old Henry Arundell, however, paving the way for Freeman to replace Cokanasiga, who failed to make an impact in the first Test.

Van Poortvliet won his cap in Perth and marked his debut with a try but at 21 he comes into a youthful backline where five players have a combined total of 23 caps. It is a remarkable rise for Van Poortvliet, who Jones is understood to rate very highly, but who failed to make Leicester’s matchday squad for the Premiership final. Elsewhere, Owen Farrell provides experience from inside-centre as he continues his dual playmaker partnership with Marcus Smith while Jack Nowell and Freddie Steward keep their places.

As expected, Underhill replaces Curry, who was ruled out of the rest of the tour earlier this week, having sustained a concussion in the first Test. That is the only change to