England bring in Harrison for injured Haskell

England bring in Harrison for injured Haskell

Back-rower Teimana Harrison was the only change in the England team named Thursday for the third and final Test against Australia in Sydney on Saturday.

England Rugby
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The Northampton Saints flanker replaced James Haskell, who suffered a foot injury in the Six Nations champions' 23-7 series-clinching win over the Wallabies in Melbourne last weekend.


Coach Eddie Jones is demanding England complete a clean-sweep in the three-match series having already won the previous two Tests in Brisbane and Melbourne to retain the Cook Cup.


"You have to work extremely hard to earn an England cap so there was no temptation to make changes for the sake of change," Jones said.


"To play for England you have to be in the best 23 and that's what this selection represents.


"Teimana comes into the side at seven for James Haskell whose foot hasn’t quite recovered from Saturday."


Jones said Harrison had trained well throughout the tour and deserved his opportunity to play in the final game.


"He's an excellent defender and his robustness will be important to us at the start of the game," he said.


"We've treated this week like a dress rehearsal for the (2019) World Cup because that what we're always building towards.


"To win a World Cup you have to win three big games in a row -– we've won two so this third game is the most important game we'll play all year. It will be a good indication of where we are as a team."


For the second straight Test, after winning 39-28 in Brisbane a week earlier, the Six Nations champions mastered the Wallabies in Melbourne to clinch their first-ever series victory in Australia.


England (15-1) - Mike Brown; Anthony Watson, Jonathan Joseph, Owen Farrell, Jack Nowell; George Ford, Ben Youngs; Billy Vunipola, Teimana Harrison, Chris Robshaw; George Kruis, Maro Itoje; Dan Cole, Dylan Hartley (capt), Mako Vunipola


Replacements: Jamie George, Matt Mullan, Paul Hill, Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes, Jack Clifford, Danny Care, Elliot Daley

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