England head coach Eddie Jones has responded to his side’s sluggish victory over Argentina by dropping Saracens lock George Kruis for Saturday’s showdown with Australia at Twickenham.
Kruis failed to impose himself on proceedings as England chalked up an unconvincing 21-8 win against the Pumas on Saturday and has been axed from the squad to face the Wallabies.
Prop Ellis Genge and back Alex Lozowski, who both came on as replacements against Argentina, have also been left out of the 25-party, although Harlequins loose-head Joe Marler and second row Charlie Ewels of Bath have been included.
Lozowski is left out despite making the initial break which resulted in fellow replacement Semesa Rokoduguni’s try at the weekend, while his absence hints at Owen Farrell returning to action.
Farrell and Saracens team-mate Maro Itoje were rested for the Argentina tussle following their exploits with the British and Irish Lions during the summer but appear set for active service once more.
Marler, meanwhile, is included after suspension, which was dished out for hitting Wasps lock Will Rowlands with his elbow during Quins’ European Champions Cup defeat at the Ricoh Arena last month.
The 27-year-old is set for his first appearance of the autumn series, as is Leicester’s former Gloucester wing Jonny May who has been struggling with a hamstring injury.
Kruis’s omission from Jones’s plans is the latest setback of a turbulent year for the Sarries forward, who has endured a number of injury problems and was dropped after the first Test of the Lions tour of New Zealand.
England are bidding for their fifth straight victory over Australia, since defeat at the World Cup in October 2015, and Jones will confirm his matchday 23 on Thursday morning.
