England coach Shaun Wane has confirmed that changes are on the way for the second Ashes Test against Australia, hinting that between two and four players could come into the side after last weekend’s humbling at Wembley.
England were soundly beaten 26-6 by the Kangaroos in the series opener, conceding 18 unanswered points in the second half.
The performance drew sharp criticism from fans and pundits alike, with many questioning the team’s lack of intensity in what should have been a marquee contest.
Wane: “This week has to look like a real Test match”
Speaking at England’s training base in Manchester on Monday, Wane admitted that his side fell well short of expectations and that he’s prepared to tweak his line-up to restore some bite.
“It’s a really good 24-man squad we’ve got,” Wane said. “There are lots of players that could have played last week (and didn’t), and they’re all going to be in contention for selection this week as well.
“Yes, (there will be changes), a few. I’m going to be seeing the coaches again shortly, and we’re going to look into what we need to do to make sure the team will be a lot more equipped.
“It didn’t look like a Test match to me (at Wembley). It wasn’t physical, they were better in many areas. This week has to look like a real Test match and we need to give a better account of ourselves.”