Ben Tapuai will start at inside centre in a Test match for the first time when the Wallabies face England at Twickenham on Saturday (Sunday AEDT).

Coach Robbie Deans has made four changes to his starting team and reshuffled his backline in the side announced in London on Thursday.

Tapuai, 23, who started at outside centre in the 33-6 loss to France last weekend, comes into No.12 in place of the injured Pat McCabe (neck).

Berrick Barnes takes over at fullback from Mike Harris who drops to the bench, with powerhouse winger Digby Ioane returning from a knee injury on the wing.

The return of Ioane and the injury to McCabe means Adam Ashley-Cooper goes from outside centre to the wing.

In other changes, second-rower Sitaleki Timani and tighthead prop Ben Alexander also resume from injury-enforced layoffs, taking over from the injured lock Kane Douglas (knee) and prop Sekope Kepu, who is on the bench.

“There aren’t too many challenges in Test rugby that are greater than playing England at Twickenham,” Deans said.

“We are playing an England side that has been building up under its new leadership, and will see Saturday as the chance to lay down a marker for the future. They will be excited by the opportunities they saw out of our performance last weekend.

“But it goes both ways. Saturday is a significant opportunity for us as a group as well. I’ts going to be a great occasion, and one that the whole group is looking forward to.”

Wallabies team (15-1) Berrick Barnes, Digby Ioane, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Ben Tapuai, Nick Cummins, Kurtley Beale, Nick Phipps, Wycliff Palu, Michael Hooper, Dave Dennis, Nathan Sharpe, Sitaleki Timani, Ben Alexander, Tatafu Polota Nau, Benn Robinson. Res: Stephen Moore, James Slipper, Sekope Kepu, Radike Samo, Liam Gill, Brett Sheehan, Mike Harris, Drew Mitchell.