Wallabies look to 'Flats' at No 10 for tour finale

LONDON - Experience has given Elton Flatley the edge to take over from the injured Stephen Larkham at first five-eighths for the Wallabies' test against England on Sunday.

Although Matt Giteau is a serious option for No 10, he has been a revelation at second five-eighths this year in Flatley's injury-enforced absence, and coach Eddie Jones would prefer not to tinker with his combinations.

Flatley is more of a natural first five-eighths but has played most of his 36 tests in the No 12 jersey next to Larkham, who fractured his forearm in Sunday's 31-17 win over Scotland in Glasgow.

"At this stage our preference would be Flats at 10 and Gits at 12 and they might interchange during the game," Jones said.

"Gits is comfortable at 12.

"He's still a very young player and to give him the responsibility of running the side when he hasn't started a Super 12 game at 10 yet, in what is our grand final of the year - whereas Flats has got that accumulated experience - would be a big ask of him."

Flatley missed Australia's domestic test season after breaking his forearm in June and has only returned on the bench for the current tour.

He played 16 minutes at first-five in the first test against Scotland, most of the second half as second-five in the loss to France and he replaced Larkham just before halftime on Sunday.

With limited time on the field this year, the Queenslander admitted he was short of form.

"I'm probably not as happy as I'd like to be," said Flatley.

"But the more time I get out there the better. I'm very confident I can do the job if given the task."

Once the issue of who plays No 10 is resolved, there's the question of who will be goalkicker. Flatley usually kicks, but Giteau has been in great form on tour, landing 11 out of 13 attempts.

- AAP