Eddie Jones to stick with England’s Smith-Farrell axis for Australia rematch

Eddie Jones is prepared to stick with the dual playmaker axis of Marcus Smith and Owen Farrell for England’s do-or-die second Test against Australia on Saturday amid calls for the head coach to overhaul his 10-12 partnership.

Smith and Farrell lined up together for only the second time in the demoralising defeat by the 14-man Wallabies on Saturday and their failure to light the fuse on England’s attack has prompted calls from the World Cup winners Clive Woodward, Will Greenwood and Lawrence Dallaglio for Jones to make major changes.

Jones, however, is hopeful that the fledgling partnership will develop into a formidable double act and has revealed he intends to keep the combination in place for the second Test in Brisbane, where Australia have won their past 10 games. Asked if he will persevere with the duo, he said: “Certainly for the next Test.”

Jones is also set to escape punishment for his comments claiming the referee James Doleman helped Australia after Darcy Swain’s 34th‑minute red card by attempting to “even things up”. In a further boost for England, Jonny Hill has not been cited for pulling Swain’s hair nor for pushing the Australia lock, who faces a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday, in the face shortly before the red-card incident.

Some personnel changes are likely, however, with Tom Curry a doubt after sustaining a head injury on Saturday. Curry took a fearsome blow in the early stages and failed to appear for the second half of the match. “We’ll have to wait and see,” Jones said. “Curry might not be available.

It is unclear whether the openside flanker – who also went off at half-time with a head injury in the Six Nations win against Wales in February – will have to sit out for 12 days in line with World