Australia to target Freeman's new centre role, says Gregan

The former Australia captain George Gregan says they will target Tommy Freeman's defending at outsidecentre for England on Saturday.

- Luke McLaughlin

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 inform 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.