Australia’s front row beefed up for second test against England
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika drops loose-head prop Scott Sio, with James Slipper and Sekope Kepu promoted to the starting line-up for clash in Melbourne
Australia coach Michael Cheika has dropped loose-head prop Scott Sio and overhauled his front row for the second test against England in Melbourne on Saturday.
Sio, hailed as the saviour of the Australian scrum after his performances at last year’s World Cup, was comprehensively overpowered by England’s Dan Cole and ended up in the sin bin in last weekend’s 39-28 first-test defeat.
James Slipper is promoted off the bench to replace Sio, while Sekope Kepu also steps up from the replacements to start instead of Greg Holmes at tight head.
Otherwise, Cheika has kept faith with the tactics if not the personnel of the team that started in Brisbane.
Sean McMahon will start at number eight in place of David Pocock, who fractured an eye socket in the opening match and was ruled out for the series.