November is always an exciting month for International rugby. About this time last year a relatively new look England side was getting into the new season with Autumn Internationals against Canada, South Africa and Australia. The Canada game was nothing more than a practise run for the boys who eventually beat the tourists 70-0. South Africa would be the first real Test, and encouragingly, England won very comfortably 32-16. So far the 3 Test series was going well. Australia on the other hand proved to be another matter. The team had failed to turn up for the first half, winning a grand total of 0 points, but their fight back in the second half was still remarkable. The awful performance at the start however would prove costly as two late Matt Giteau penalties put Australia in front near the end of the game and the Aussies eventually won 21-19. Still, 2 out of 3 with only 2 points the difference in the 3rd game wasn’t that bad a record. If only the team knew what was to come from the Six Nations…

This year, a supposedly new England team face off against Australia, Lion tamers New Zealand and World Cup scare-mongers Samoa. England take on Australia on the 12th November, and supporters can be forgiven for wanting England to get back to winning ways. If not, we can kiss the 2007 World Cup goodbye now.

When Andy Robinson announced his 30 man Elite training squad for the Autumn Internationals there were great sighs of relief and in some cases fits of joy. Barkley, Cohen, White, Greenwood and Kay were no where to be seen; instead the likes of Abbott, Simpson Daniel, Sanderson, Brown and Van Gisbergen adorned the squad list. Unfortunately and unsurprisingly it was too good to be true as Robinson soon ‘updated’ the squad, eschewing amongst a few ‘Sonic Stuart Abbott’ and James Simpson ‘Sinbad’ Daniel in favour for Olly Barkley and Ben Cohen. All in all, many of the fans weren’t happy.

Robinson recently announced the team to play Australia:

1. Andy Sheridan: Most powerful and generally ‘complete’ prop in the British Isles.
2. Steve Thompson: As many feared, Lee Mears has been shunned. Clearly Robinson doesn’t see the benefit of having 3 Bath players working together in the lineout. As much as I (generally) rate Thompson, I would have liked some freshness in this area.
3. Phil Vickery: Hasn’t done a great deal since his return from injury. Stevens should have started.
4. Steve Borthwick: With Simon Shaw out, Steve Borthwick is a good second choice.
5. Danny Grewcock: On form and well selected, as long as he doesn’t do anything controversial, again.
6. Pat Sanderson: I’m interested to see how he does, but am also wondering what Tom Rees would be like in this position. Perhaps too early for him though.
7. Lewis Moody: Mad-Eye’s showing average form but was always going to start anyway; though at openside??
8. Martin Corry: Captain Cozza led the side well last season, though has been struggling recently.
9. Matt Dawson: The Achilles’ Heal of the England squad, with no one really pushing for a place. Dawson may be past it, but he’s the best we have in my opinion. His passing might be slow, but at least it’s mostly accurate (unlike a certain Harry Ellis).
10. Charlie Hodgson: Showing superb form for Sale. England supporters everywhere will hope he’s mastered his kicking for goal demons which cost us so much last season. I’ve a good feeling.
11. Ben Cohen: Showing great form for Saints, albeit against “lesser” opponents, a controversial start given the non-inclusion of Mark Van Gisbergen. I’ll reserve judgment till I see him play.
12. Mike Tindall: As with Vickery, not showing a great deal of form, but still more than solid in defence. Not the way forward however.
13. Jamie Noon: We’ll have to wait and see whether his creativity will show playing outside Tindall.
14. Mark Cueto: No doubt really, as with Hodgson, showing outstanding form for Sale, England and even the Lions when he played.
15. Josh Lewsey: Sorry Mr Gisbergen, you’re not needed. Robinson clearly isn’t impressed with the NZ born full back, most likely due to his recent dip for Wasps. I’m not 100% convinced of Lewsey at fullback, but again, I’ll reserve judgment.

The bench is made up of Mears, Stevens, Deacon, Jones, Ellis, Barkley and Van Gissy.

The Wallabies have come under fire after slumping to six straights losses, their worst run of defeats since 1969. Australia suffered a win-less Tri-Nations this summer and defeat over France has increased the pressure on coach Eddie Jones, who admits that he has never felt lower. Former international David Campese and former coach Alan Jones have also added their views, calling for captain newly christened ‘Most Capped Player” George Gregan to be axed.

England have won only 50 percent of their games since Andy Robinson succeeded Sir Clive Woodward a year ago, losing to Australia, Wales, France and Ireland, with two of those setbacks coming at one-time fortress Twickenham.

So there is huge pressure on Corry and company to deliver against the Wallabies, who have beaten England twice in succession since Jonny Wilkinson booted their 2003 Rugby World Cup hopes into oblivion. England toppled Australia five times in a row between 2000 and 2003, culminating with the World Cup triumph, and a return to such dominance is the aim for Corry's men, starting this weekend.

My money’s on England, given Australia’s poor record as of late, but the team must put in an impressive showing if they will have any hope of even approaching the level of the All Blacks the following weekend.

The new era has to start now, come on lads give us something to cheer about.

England team to face Australia on 12 November:
J Lewsey (Wasps); M Cueto (Sale), J Noon (Newcastle), M Tindall (Gloucester), B Cohen (Northampton); C Hodgson (Sale), M Dawson (Wasps); A Sheridan (Sale), S Thompson (Northampton), P Vickery (Gloucester); S Borthwick (Bath), D Grewcock (Bath); P Sanderson (Worcester), L Moody (Leicester), M Corry (Leicester, capt).
Replacements: L Mears (Bath), M Stevens (Bath), L Deacon (Leicester), C Jones (Sale), H Ellis (Leicester), O Barkley (Bath), M Van Gisbergen (Wasps).

Australia team to face England on 12 November:
Coming Soon…

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