Jonathan Joseph fit for England vs Australia clash

The Bath centre missed last week’s 28-25 loss to Wales with the chest injury he sustained in the tournament opener against Fiji, with Sam Burgess taking his place in England’s midfield.

But he has been making good progress in his recovery and Stuart Lancaster is hopeful he will come through training unscathed this week.

It is a somewhat harsh fate for the giant cross-coder, in order to allow for Brad Barritt’s shift back to inside centre and Joseph’s recall.

Number eight Nick Easter practised with the squad for the first time since being called up as a replacement for Billy Vunipola, who has been ruled out of the remainder of the World Cup by a knee strain.

Courtney Lawes’ knee injury means a possible start for Joe Launchbury alongside Geoff Parling, with the pair set to reform their partnership in the second row which was so effective during the 2013 Six Nations.

Joseph did not appear for the start of England’s open training session on Tuesday afternoon, neither did Youngs nor Lawes.

Jonathan Joseph will replace Sam Burgess in the England midfield against Australia.

That was certainly the view of former captain Mike Tindall, who said: “Again there is this question of consistency in selection – how are people going to bed into the team and find a rhythm if they are in, out, in, out, shake it all about?”

They had a quiet game in the opening win against Fiji but Joseph is England’s greatest try scoring threat.