Joseph back for England, Lawes out

Jonathan Joseph played a role in England training on Tuesday as he battles to be fit for Saturday’s World Cup showdown with Australia.

Joseph comes into the side for former Rugby League player Sam Burgess, who failed to impress in the defeat to the Dragons.

When asked if his entire time with England hangs on this week, Lancaster said: “I think that’s fair to say”.

As a result of Joseph’s return to fitness, Sam Burgess is expected to drop out of England’s starting XV after attracting both praise and criticism from several pundits for his performance against Wales.

Scrum-half Ben Youngs, who excelled against Wales, has overcome his ankle injury and will be involved in a match England must win if they are to save their World Cup from oblivion.

In the pack, No 8 Ben Morgan and lock Joe Launchbury have replaced Billy Vunipola and Courtney Lawes respectively because of knee injuries.

“We’ve been working hard each day this week to improve our game before we play England on Saturday”, Cheika said.

Barritt and Joseph, who scored four tries in the Six Nations Championship last season, were the first-choice centre pairing for the opening Pool A win against Fiji, with George Ford at fly-half.

Nick Easter, Vunipola’s squad replacement, goes straight on to the bench so James Haskell is axed from the 23 altogether, while George Kruis provides second row cover. It’s going to be an exciting match and everything is on this one game for us. “The group is really committed to making all Australian’s truly proud of how we represent them at this Rugby World Cup and Saturday night will be another opportunity for us to do that”.

England (probable): Brown; Watson, Joseph, Barritt, May; Farrell, B Youngs; Marler, T Youngs, Cole, Parling, Launchbury, Wood, Robshaw, Morgan.