Michael Cheika has launched a twin-openside assault on England, naming the starting Wallabies side that defeated Fiji in their tournament opener for the Rugby World Cup blockbuster against the hosts at Twickenham on Saturday.

Cheika made 14 changes to that starting line-up for the team's second match of the tournament, against Uruguay in Cardiff, as he sought to rotate the players and keep them fresh, and Scott Sio is the only squad member to have started each match.

Cheika said the Wallabies would have to improve on their opening two performances in the tournament if they were defeat England, who will provide desperate opposition with their campaign on the line.

David Pocock © Getty Images

Enlarge

"We've been working hard each day this week to improve our game before we play England on Saturday," Cheika said.

"I believe that this group [the starting team that ran out against Fiji] has been really clear on where we must improve and the level we must be at to compete with England, and we know that it's going to be a very tough challenge.

"The group is really committed to making all Australians truly proud of how we represent them at this Rugby World Cup and Saturday night will be another opportunity for us to do that."

Perhaps the most notable selection was that of Bernard Foley over Quade Cooper at five-eighth, but Cheika said "we set out with an original plan we wanted to run with, and I feel that has happened". Cheika also showed faith in Will Genia despite pressure from Nick Phipps.

Cooper performed strongly in attack against Uruguay, setting up three tries with his unpredictable play, but his sin-binning and a poor day with the boot - kicking five from 11 attempts - hurt his case with points expected to be at a premium in the Twickenham cauldron.

"A number of guys were [close to selection]," assistant coach Stephen Larkham said. "Quade, I thought particularly, had a good game. He was disappointed again with being yellow carded, and he made a couple of mistakes but generally controlled the play very well. He showed some flashes of brilliance out there."

Cheika said also of the selection of Hooper alongside Pocock that he would "probably be a bit more traditionalist in the way I set up the back-row with a different type of blindside flanker but the two lads have played too well so far for me not to select them together".

Cheika confrimed his replacements after training at Dulwich College on Thursday morning, naming a 5-3 split with Ben McCalman, replacing injured Will Skelton, the only change to the bench that faced Fiji in their opening game.

Australia: Israel Folau; Adam Ashley-Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani, Matt Giteau, Rob Horne; Bernard Foley, Will Genia; David Pocock, Michael Hooper, Scott Fardy; Rob Simmons, Kane Douglas; Sekope Kepu, Stephen Moore (captain), Scott Sio

Replacements: Tatafu Polota-Nau, James Slipper, Greg Holmes, Dean Mumm, Ben McCalman, Nick Phipps, Matt Toomua, Kurtley Beale.