The return of George Smith to the starting XV, and the selection of an entirely new midfield combination featuring Digby Ioane and Quade Cooper, are the key changes to the Wallabies starting line-up that will meet England in the Cook Cup Test at Twickenham on Saturday.

Smith, the game's fifth most capped player, has swapped roles with the Western Force 21-year-old David Pocock from last week. He will play in his 107th Test.

Ioane plays his sixth Test match, but his first at centre, after making a successful return from injury on the wing last weekend against the All Blacks. The powerful 24-year-old converted to the midfield for the Reds this year, making 10 appearances at centre before his efforts were curtailed by a shoulder injury that required surgery to correct.

He teams up with his state colleague Cooper, who has won selection for his eighth Test, but just his second at inside centre, after starring with 16 points from the flyhalf position during Tuesday's 36-5 win over Gloucester.

The 21-year-old features in the run on side for just the second time, and both have been in the No.12 jersey, after he started from that position during Australia's 34-12 win over Italy at Melbourne in June. Cooper also played inside centre during the Reds' final match of this year's Super 14, scoring a try against the Hurricanes at Suncorp Stadium.

The re-positioning of Ioane in the No.13 jersey has opened the way for Drew Mitchell, who scored two tries on Tuesday at Kingsholm, to return on the wing after he was unused from the bench in Tokyo.

Cooper's elevation from last week's Test reserves allows Adam Ashley-Cooper to return to fullback ? the position he was originally selected for last week, before the injury to team vice-captain Berrick Barnes prompted a late backline reshuffle. Ashley-Cooper scored Australia's try, from fullback, during the Wallabies' most recent visit to Twickenham last year.

While the selection of Smith is the only change from last week's starting forward pack against the All Blacks, there are three changes in the backline as well as Ashley-Cooper's relocation, with fullback James O'Connor and centre Ryan Cross dropping back to the bench.

Hooker Stephen Moore, who was originally named on the bench last week before being drafted into the run on side when injury troubled Tatafu Polota-Nau, has retained his place, with Polota-Nau selected to back him up.

Moore was the man of the match during the Cook Cup Test 12 months ago.

Australia's 28-14 win over England last year was just its second success from its five most recent visits to London.

However, such is the level of the transition that has taken place within the Wallabies; just eight of that starting side will be back again in the run on team this Saturday.

Four are backs: Ashley-Cooper, Peter Hynes, Mitchell and Matt Giteau, while Smith, lock Mark Chisholm, Moore and prop Benn Robinson remain from the starting forward combination.

Australia: 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 Peter Hynes, 13 Digby Ioane, 12 Quade Cooper, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Will Genia, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 George Smith, 6 Rocky Elsom (captain), 5 Mark Chisholm, 4 James Horwill, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16 Tatafu Polota Nau, 17 Matt Dunning, 18 Dean Mumm, 19 David Pocock, 20 Luke Burgess, 21 Ryan Cross, 22 James O'Connor.

Date: Saturday, November 7
Venue: Twickenham, London
Kick-off: 14.30 (14.30 GMT; 06.30 AEDT, Sunday November 8)
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: George Clancy (Ireland), Tim Hayes (Wales) TMO: Jim Yuille (Scotland)