Australia will target Freeman at centre in England clash, George Gregan warns

  • Former captain says defensive questions will be asked

  • Freeman switching from more familiar role out wide

The former Australia captain George Gregan says they will target Tommy Freeman’s defending at outside-­centre for England on Saturday.

Steve Borthwick’s side kick off their autumn campaign at Twickenham against opponents who consigned them to a dramatic late defeat last year, and the head coach has made some notable selectorial calls.

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‘Back to bed it is’: Luke Littler misses darts tournament due to traffic jam

  • World champion out of Players Championship in Wigan

  • Littler appeared to miss 11am registration deadline

Luke Littler missed Wednesday’s Players Championship event in Wigan after a traffic jam caused him to be late for registration.

It is understood the 18-year-old was stuck in road congestion and did not arrive in time for the strict 11am deadline. The reigning world champion has already qualified for next month’s finals in Minehead, after winning Players Championship 32 earlier this month.

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All is not lost for England but Shaun Wane needs to be bold in second Test

The coach should rethink his halfback combination and stand down his old pack for the game at Everton’s stadium

By No Helmets Required

Having bet the house on Hull KR hero Mikey Lewis being the problem that Australia could not solve, England coach Shaun Wane has retreated home to Wigan to ponder whether he should have stuck rather than twisted. Dropping Harry Smith for the Ashes opener, and favouring treble-winner Lewis to partner captain George Williams in the halves, was surprising but understandable. Lewis, the player of the match in the Super League Grand Final, was in the form of his life. But the Williams-Lewis combination struggled to open up Australia. If they fail again on Saturday in Liverpool, Wane’s dream of winning the Ashes will be over.

“Our last plays disappointed me most,” said Wane after the 26-6 defeat at Wembley. “They outkicked us.” It’s rare anyone outkicks Wigan player Smith. Lewis mixed up his kicks under the arch, but very little troubled Australia. The best attacking kick was a 40-20 from replacement hooker Jez Litten when England trailed by three scores. Even then, Williams fumbled close to the line and five seconds later Reece Walsh had got to the halfway line.

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