Fly-half Smith fit to steer England against Wallabies

Fly-half Fin Smith recovers from a calf injury and will start for England in their opening Test of the autumn against Australia on Sunday.

Fly-half Fin Smith recovers from a calf injury to steer England in their opening Test of the autumn against Australia on Sunday. Smith overtook George Ford in the fly-half pecking order during this year's Six Nations Fly-half Fin Smith has recovered from a calf injury to start for England in their opening Test of the autumn against Australia on Sunday. Smith has started England's past five matches at 10, but was a doubt to face the Wallabies in the Nations Championship encounter after coming off late on in club side Northampton's defeat by Leicester on 24 October. The 24-year-old is joined in the starting line-up by flanker Ben Curry, who makes his Test return after an injury-hit 16 months.

Curry, whose twin brother Tom suffered an injury set-back in training earlier this week that took him out of contention, is seen as key to combatting Australia's breakdown specialists Fraser McReight and Carlo Tizzano and ensuring a supply of quick ball to Smith and his backline. Smith will have Saints team-mate Tommy Freeman as an attacking outlet and a target for crossfield kicks on the wing, while full-back George Furbank, who can step in at first receiver, played alongside both before his summer move to Harlequins. Alex Coles, another Northampton player, wins a starting second row spot ahead of George Martin,