Sam Underhill to start second Test as Eddie Jones mulls Henry Arundell decision

Flanker Sam Underhill is set to start England’s crucial second Test against Australia with head coach Eddie Jones also considering throwing teenage speedster Henry Arundell into the fray in Brisbane. 

After an underwhelming attacking performance in the first Test defeat, Jones may change up his back three with wing Joe Cokanasiga’s place under particular spotlight. Jonny May was set to come into the equation after coming out of isolation from Covid-19 but is still not physically not 100 per cent and is undergoing a “graded return to full training”.  

That could open the door for Arundell could come into the starting XV after his sensational debut last week, coming off the bench to score one try and create another. 

Despite only having made two Premiership starts for London Irish, his combination of power and pace is a tantalising option. Uncapped Northampton full-back Tommy Freeman is an alternative, having impressed in England’s otherwise dispiriting pre-tour defeat to the Barbarians. 

Jones announces his team on Thursday morning. Underhill is expected to replace Tom Curry who has been ruled out of the tour after suffering a concussion in the first half of their 30-28 defeat in Perth. The Bath flanker only made one appearance for England during the Six Nations after his own concussion issues and was not in the matchday squad last week.

However, Jones has opted to call upon one Kamikaze Kid to replace the other with Underhill’s destructive defensive stopping power preferred to the more dynamic back-row options of Jack Willis and Lewis Ludlam, who came off the bench to replace Curry in Perth. 

“Sam missed out on selection for the first Test but he's competed really strongly to put him in the frame for the second Test,”