Fin Smith cleared to start at fly-half as England host Australia at Twickenham on Sunday

Fin Smith has recovered from a calf injury and will start at fly-half for England against Australia at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium in the opening Test of the autumn on Sunday 8 November.

Smith, 24, had started England’s previous five matches at 10 and was a doubt after being forced off late in Northampton’s 24 October defeat by Leicester; he overtook George Ford in the pecking order during this year’s Six Nations. Flanker Ben Curry returns to the Test XV after an injury-hit 16 months, with his twin brother Tom ruled out of contention following an injury setback in training earlier this week.

Curry is selected to help blunt Australia’s breakdown threats from Fraser McReight and Carlo Tizzano and to supply quick ball to Smith and the backline. Saints team-mate Tommy Freeman is named on the wing as an attacking outlet and a crossfield-kick target, while full-back George Furbank, who played with both at Northampton before moving to Harlequins over the summer, can also operate at first receiver.

Alex Coles wins a starting spot in the second row ahead of George Martin and Henry Slade is picked at outside centre; Joe Marchant and Will Joseph are omitted from the matchday 23. Fin Baxter starts at loose-head prop after only two appearances since a return from a 10-month foot-injury lay-off, with Ellis Genge and Will Stuart among the front-row options named among the replacements.

Exeter back row Greg Fisilau is included on the bench and looks set to win his first cap. Fisilau is ranked first for carries (67), third for post-contact metres (76) and fourth for successful tackles (78) in the Prem this season; England head coach Steve Borthwick said: "[Fisilau has] worked incredibly hard to get to this point and has earned his opportunity through the way he's performed for Exeter and in our training environment." He added: "He's a powerful, athletic player who brings real energy to the team."

Borthwick also warned of the challenge posed by the visitors, saying: "Australia are a talented side who have played a significant amount of Test rugby in recent months. We know the challenge that awaits us and we're looking forward to it." England's squad for the autumn only assembled on Monday evening, while the article notes Australia have played seven Tests since their opponents' last outing, a victory over Argentina in July.

England XV: Furbank; Freeman, Slade, Atkinson, Feyi-Waboso; F Smith, van Poortvliet; Baxter, George, Heyes, Itoje, Coles, Chessum, Curry, Earl. Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Genge, Stuart, Martin, Fisilau, Pollock, Spencer, M Smith.

Australia have named Jeremy Williams, more usually a second row, at blindside flanker and Len Ikitau returns at inside centre after missing the defeat by New Zealand under head injury assessment protocols. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is named on the wing, with Rob Valentini, Taniela Tupou and Carlo Tizzano among the powerful options on the bench. Australia: Wright; Jorgensen, Suaalii, Henry, Ikitau; Meredith, Lonergan; Bell, Pollard, Alaalatoa, Canham, Salakaia-Loto, Williams, McReight, Wilson. Replacements: Nasser, Kailea, Tupou, Valetini, Tizzano, McDermott, Donaldson, Daugunu.

After meeting Australia, England travel through a packed autumn schedule with matches against Japan and New Zealand on 14 and 21 November respectively, before a Nations Championship finals weekend play-off against an as-yet-undecided southern-hemisphere opponent.