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England head coach sean wayne Been waiting five years for “Smash-Up” Australia And enjoying the underdog role before the first of the long-awaited three ash Test at Wembley on Saturday.
Wayne played England in February 2020 but there was a controversial series later that year Abandoned due to Covid pandemic And the 61-year-old is counting down the days to take another hit at the Kangaroos.
Speaking at the series launch event in London on Tuesday, Wayne said: “I took over in 2020 and the first thing I did was watch the Ashes series.
“Obviously that got canceled and I was completely injured. The chance to play against the best team in the world in such an iconic stadium, it’s a fantastic day.”
Australia have announced their matchday squad which includes four debutants, but Wynne has also decided on his line-up, insisting he will not name it until Thursday lunchtime.
Chief among the questions are whether Mickey Lewis or Harry Smith will partner George Williams in the half-back positions, and whether Lewis’s teammate Jez Lytton has done enough to wrest the number nine shirt from St Helens hooker Daryl Clark.
Either way Wynne believes he has a team that can build on the series wins over Samoa and Tonga over the past two seasons and pull off a major upset against the Australians in the first meeting between the two countries in 22 years.
“Nobody gave us a chance against Samoa and Tonga, which is good,” Wayne said. “It gives us extra motivation. It would be good to limit it to the doubters. I’m not on social media but I know a lot of things have been said.
“The way we’re training, it feels like a club. It feels like a Super League team. It’s hard to get that club feel in an international structure.
“They’ll be physical with us and we’ll be physical with them. It’s going to be a fierce battle and in the end the best team will come out. I hope it’s us.”
Reece Walsh has won the battle to be named as Australia’s starting full-back after a stellar performance for the Brisbane Broncos in the NRL Grand Final against the Melbourne Storm earlier this month.
Walsh, who replaces Dylan Edwards, is one of three starting debutants alongside Gahamat Shibasaki, who scored two tries for the Broncos in the final, and Sydney Roosters winger Mark Nwazanitawase. Keon Kolomatangi will start on the bench.
Australia head coach Kevin Walters said, “It will be very thrilling for all four of them to wear the green and gold colors for the first time in a Test match in such a prestigious stadium.
“I’m excited for him as well as all our players. Every member of our team, whether they take the field or not, is going to experience something incredibly special this Saturday at Wembley.”
Australia team: 1. Reece Walsh, 2. Mark Nwazanitawase, 3. Kotoni Staggs, 4. Gehamat Shibasaki, 5. Josh Addo-Carr, 6. Cameron Munster, 7. Nathan Cleary, 8. Patrick Carrigan, 9. Harry Grant, 10. Tino Fa’asumaleui, 11. Angus Crichton, 12. Hudson Young, 13. Isiah Yeo (captain)
Interchange: 14. Tom Dearden, 15. Lindsay Collins, 16. Reuben Cotter, 17. Keon Kolomatangi