Stuart Lancaster has given George Ford the nod over Owen Farrell © Getty Images

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England coach Stuart Lancaster has backed Owen Farrell to bounce back after he was dropped to the bench for Saturday's Test against Australia at Twickenham.

Lancaster has opted to pair George Ford with Billy Twelvetrees at 10 and 12 respectively with Farrell providing cover among the replacements.

"Owen will play a different role off the bench this week - at 10 or 12," said Lancaster. ""We know we can use him in both positions. He accepted it well. He's a great professional and he's very team focussed. He accepted that George [Ford] had played well and that he's not on top form.

"He will contribute from the bench and then go away and work hard with Saracens. I'm sure he will be back."

Plant trees and let them grow

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The news comes off the back of last weekend's win over Samoa where Lancaster named Ford at fly-half with Farrell at No.12. But Twelvetrees' second-half showing in that Test has been enough to persuade Lancaster to give him a chance from the outset.

"Billy's application in training and the way he has worked on his game is the reason he's got the nod. Owen has not been quite as consistent as he [Twelvetrees] has been. It's good to be able to give Billy his first start of the series. He deserves his chance."

Lancaster also believes Ford deserves a chance to build on his promising showing against Samoa. "I think we will learn a huge amount from this game - not just about George, but also Anthony Watson. George and Anthony will be tested at a level they've never been at before. The Australian backline is high quality right across the board.

"Managing a game like this is a big thing to put on George's shoulders. We know what a talent he is and this will test him at the next level."

Two further changes have been made to the starting XV that dispatched Samoa with Northampton forwards Dylan Hartley and Tom Wood restored to the pack. Hartley replaces Rob Webber at hooker after being punished by Lancaster with demotion to the bench for receiving a brainless yellow card against the Springboks and Wood swaps places with James Haskell at blindside flanker.

Lancaster said Wood's stamina had played a big part in his return to the starting line-up.

"He got the nod because the tempo of the game will be high. The Australians have a high ball in play time and Tom's engine is one of the best in our squad.

"He is also a good leader. He wasn't too happy at not being picked last week but everyone can have their turn on bench. Last week he was a bit frustrated - this week he starts."

Webber and Haskell are among the replacements with Lancaster having named an unchanged matchday 23. "The Samoa game gave us the opportunity to give James and Rob a start and they made a good contribution," Lancaster said. "Tom and Dylan were disappointed not to be in the XV last week and they are desperate to go out and perform on Saturday so that we finish the series on a high."