England coach Stuart Lancaster has stuck to his guns and picked Saracens' pair Owen Farrell and Brad Barritt for Saturday's World Cup crunch clash with Australia (kick-off 8pm).

However, Billy Vunipola is replaced at number eight by Ben Morgan after suffering a tournament ending knee injury in last weekend's defeat by Wales. His place in the squad is taken by Harlequins' veteran Nick Easter, who is named on the bench.

A 28-25 defeat by Wales at Twickenham on Saturday leaves the Red Rose third in Pool A after two fixtures. If Wales beat Fiji tonight, they will have to beat the Wallabies to avoid an embarassing early exit.

Fly-half Farrell started the defeat to Wales and have a 100 per cent success rate with the boot before the decision was taken to kick for touch and go for a try at the death, rather than attempting a penalty which would have drawn England level.

Barritt started alongside his Saracens teammate in the midfield with Billy Vunipola making up the Sarries contingent.

Bath's Sam Burgess, after making his first start against Warren Gatland's side, drops to the bench, though, as Jonathan Joseph returns following injury.

George Kruis comes into the matchday 23 for the first time whilst there are places on the bench once more for Men in Black pair Mako Vunipola and Richard Wigglesworth.

Discussing his decisions, Lancaster told the RFU website: “JJ (Jonathan Joseph) and Ben Youngs are both fit and raring to go, as are the rest of the squad for what will be a huge game against a very good team.

“England-Australia matches at Twickenham are always massive occasions, this one more than ever, and we want everyone behind us so we can get the result we all want.”

England XV to face Wales: 15. Mike Brown (Harlequins), 14. Anthony Watson (Bath), 13. Jonathan Joseph (Bath), 12. Brad Barritt (Saracens), 11. Johnny May (Gloucester), 10. Owen Farrell (Saracens), 9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers); 1. Joe Marler (Harlequins), 2. Tom Young (Leicester Tigers), 3. Dan Cole ( Leicester Tigers), 4. Joe Launchbury (Wasps), 5. Geoff Parling (Exeter Chiefs), 6. Tom Wood (Northampton Saints), 7. Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, captain), 8. Ben Morgan (Gloucester).

Replacements: 16. Rob Webber (Bath), 17. Mako Vunipola (Saracens), 18. Kieran Brookes (Northampton Saints), 19. George Kruis (Saracens), 20. Nick Easter (Harlequins), 21. Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens), 22. George Ford (Bath), 23. Sam Burgess (Bath).