George Ford is sacrificed as England gear up for 'do-or-die' battle

Jones insists that his warriors are "23-strong with eight more hiding up there in the caves", a rallying cry of unity from which George Ford is unlikely to take much consolation after he was dropped to the bench for the second World Cup in succession for the crunch fixtures.

England, in fact, have traded an in-form fly-half for another player for the third tournament running, with Martin Johnson doing likewise with Toby Flood and Jonny Wilkinson in 2011. The ploy has not worked before, yet Jones is adamant that it is the squad who matter, not the starting XV, likening them to the ancient Japanese military.

"It's do-or-die time," said Jones. "You see those hills at the back of us? That's where the Samurai lived. Every time the Samurai fought, one lived and one died. It will be the same on Saturday: someone is going to live and someone is going to die."

Fear

Australia have delivered even more of a coup in their selection of Jordan Petaia, 19, at outside centre, the youngest player to represent the Wallabies at a World Cup. It is a bold move, in keeping with the mood of the underdog squad. "The fear inside us is dead," said coach Michael Cheika. "Jordan is more than ready to do this."

As for Jones, he rejected the notion that he has gambled by ditching Ford as the starting fly-half to reassemble the midfield of Owen Farrell, Manu Tuilagi and Henry Slade that served England well in the 2019 Six Nations.

To outsiders, Ford is the fall guy. It is not a Sam Burgess moment, the card that collapsed the deck in 2015, but it is certainly an eyebrow-raiser.

To those inside the camp, Jones is adamant that this is the norm, a non-story with the musketeer mentality in play where it is one for all and all for one, "the finishers", as Jones has depicted those on the replacements' bench, having as much of a role as the guy who starts. Try telling that to Ford, whom Jones described as "disappointed but taking it well".

Farrell was the kingpin selection at No 10 throughout the year. With Courtney Lawes preferred to George Kruis at lock, there is a bristling sense of menace about England.

"It is horses for courses," conceded Jones, noting that Wallaby centre Samu Kerevi is "a damaging ball-carrier" and that he wants England "to defend with brutality".

He said: "The World Cup has been significant in this selection. Australia brings a particular set of issues in terms of their attack and in terms of the way they defend. They defend a lot differently from most teams."

As for the Ford bombshell: "You guys are obsessed with who starts," added Jones. "Look at baseball, where some of the closers are the most highly-paid pitchers in the game because they have such an important job to do."

There are changes elsewhere, with Mako Vunipola making his first start in five months after ripping his hamstring in the European Champions Cup final on May 11. The Saracens loosehead has only 17 minutes against Argentina in this World Cup, even less than Slade has managed.

"The pair have been training exceptionally well," said Jones. "The guys are ready to go."

No-one questions the merits of the midfield players. The issue is one of match sharpness, as well as lack of familiarity given that this is the first time that this back line has started together.

For Jones, though, esprit de corps matters more than silky skill or polished manoeuvres.

"The rugby in a World Cup is pretty simple as you don't see brilliant rugby there," said Jones. "You see teams that are able to do things well over and over again. I can't recall a brilliant team winning the World Cup apart from New Zealand in 2015.

"The reality is you've got to play seven games in-a-row to win it. So you need those attributes of being tough, competing, stick together." (© Daily Telegraph, London)

England v Australia, Tomorrow, RTÉ2/eir Sport 1/UTV, 8.15am.