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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. George Ford starts at No 10 instead of Fin Smith, Ford’s Sale Sharks colleague Tom Roebuck is on the wing and, most interestingly, Freeman will play at No 13.
The in-form Northampton back will line up in midfield for England, switching from a more familiar role out wide. He scored four tries in the Saints’ win against Saracens last Friday wearing the No 14 jersey, and outside-centre requires a different set of skills, particularly without the ball.
“They’ll definitely target him. That’s nothing new. They’re going to ask him some questions,” Gregan said. “I’d be very surprised if they didn’t, I’d be very surprised if [Wallabies head coach] Joe Schmidt hadn’t created something around there.
“Australia have a very smart way of attacking which can ‘show up’ one way, and they’ve got a few options off it. That’s what good attack does. Twelve and 13 is an area you always want to try and target. And if you can create doubt there, that sort of flows on everywhere, inside and out.”
Gregan captained Australia at the 2003 World Cup, played all three Tests in the series victory against the British & Irish Lions in 2001, and won 139 international caps. The former scrum-half emphasised how difficult the outside-centre role can be from a defensive perspective.
“The No 13 channel is hard to defend,” Gregan, who will be working for TNT Sports during the Quilter Nations Series starting this Saturday, said. “I think it’s probably the hardest place to defend on the field. You’ve got to work with your man on the inside, particularly in the modern game … you’ve got to get it right, you’ve got to be committed, you’ve got to make good decisions.”
Gregan also said he is a “big fan” of Marcus Smith, who has been left out of England’s matchday 23, and predicted he will have a significant role to play as Borthwick rotates No 10 options of Ford, Fin Smith and Marcus Smith in the run-up to the Rugby World Cup in Australia in 2027. Marcus Smith shifted to full-back to accommodate Fin Smith starting at No 10 last year, but Freddie Steward takes the No 15 jersey this weekend.
“That might change,” Gregan said of the Harlequins player’s absence from the squad. “Marcus Smith hasn’t been axed. I’m a big fan. He’s a wonderful player. England have got a plethora of options there [at fly-half].
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“Anyone who’s got a running threat and a passing threat, and an ability to back themselves which Marcus does – he’s always had that in spades. England have got a lot of artillery with those gentlemen [Marcus Smith, Fin Smith and Ford]. How they want to put that into the game, and play that week, that’s totally up to them.
“I’m sure they’re competing hard at training and anyone who misses out wants to get into the 23. Competition’s important and that brings the best out of the players.”
Gregan said that Noah Caluori’s aerial ability reminds him of an AFL player – “He might leave this country and go to [AFL club] Collingwood,” he joked, and also praised the ability of Freeman’s Northampton teammate Henry Pollock, who will be on the bench at Twickenham.
“His debut against Wales in the last Six Nations was very impressive, off the back of a lot of positive chat from people who I really respect,” Gregan said. “Then you watch him, and he’s everywhere, and he’s just going to get better. It was a really inspired choice by Faz [Andy Farrell] to have him part of that Lions team.”
