Two alterations are made to the England roster by Shaun Wane as two St Helens players withdraw due to injuries.

For Saturday’s second Test matchup with Tonga, England’s head coach Shaun Wane has made two changes to his team.

Matty Ashton, a winger for Warrington Wolves, will play for England in his second international match on Saturday. Head coach Shaun Wane has made two changes to the team for the match against Tonga at John Smith’s Stadium in Huddersfield (KO 2.30pm).

Ashton replaces Tommy Makinson, and Wolves teammate Ben Currie takes Morgan Knowles’ position. The St Helens players suffered wrist and thumb injuries, respectively, during last Sunday’s series opener at the Totally Wicked Stadium against Tonga, where they won 22–18. Knowles is out of the last three games of the three-match series, along with winger Dom Young.

Huddersfield prop Chris Hill will make his 35th full international appearance on home ground at the Johns Smith’s Stadium – only James Graham (44) and Ryan Hall (40) have made more full international appearances for England.

 

England Head Coach Shaun Wane says: “Matty Ashton impressed me earlier in the year during the mid-season international against France and has continued on the same path over the last few weeks. I’m really pleased to be able to give him an opportunity against Tonga.

“Last week was a real battle of attrition and we fought hard to come out on top, but we still have work to do to win this three-game series. We know that Tonga will be hurt, they’ll come out even stronger, and will be seeking revenge this weekend. It is up to us to ensure that doesn’t happen and we come away with the victory – and the series.

“The England fans came out in force at St Helens last week and we need a repeat of that at Huddersfield on Saturday.”

England will once again be led by St Helens full-back Jack Welsby as they attempt to win the three-match series before the final game at Headingley on Saturday, November 4, with skipper George Williams serving the second of a two-game suspension.

The 19-man England squad includes Matty Ashton of the Warrington Wolves, John Bateman of the Wests Tigers, Tom Burgess of the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Daryl Clark and Ben Currie of the Warrington Wolves, Liam Farrell of the Wigan Warriors, Chris Hill of the Huddersfield Giants, Tom Johnstone of the Catalans Dragons, Toby King of the Wigan Warriors, Matty Lees of the St Helens.