By Ouseburn (15/11/02)
November 15 2002

Here come the Wallabies limping into Twickenham, by the sounds of it England may have to lend them a few of our players to play the game... Australia

It would seem that the following players are injured Ben Tune, Owen Finegan tours are over, Stephen Larkham (hamstring), Jeremy Paul (hamstring), Mat Rogers (rib cartilage) and David Lyons (hip)!

One has to ask the question what state of mind will they be in for the next test against England? Captain George Gregan has done a Round-the-World dash for the birth of his new daughter and landed back in England again on Monday. Imagine the jet-lag, I can tell you that he will suffer for that voyage jet-lag does weird things to the body, vision and judgement.

Of course the Australian National coach Eddie Jones has started up the games off the field once again (Mind Games) by claiming that Referees in International Rugby are favouring home teams, he has already started his psychological tactics toward this week’s Ref: Paul Honiss.

On reading Ben Darwin’s Diary(Australian Prop) - I thought I would share one of his reflections below:-

"And so we work towards the next test at Twickenham which is always an amazing spectacle with a full crowd of screaming Poms. After Saturday’s game between New Zealand and England the local press felt that they had seen the World Cup winning team. We will have to do something about that!"

If you want to read more check: http://www.rugby.com.au

So what of this Australian team, they will no doubt be licking their wounds (pardon the pun), but what is it they say about a hurt animal? I think they will come at England with all guns blasting on Saturday afterall the ‘Cook Cup’ has resided at Twickenham for two long years and they want that cup back. To hear all the talk you would not think Australia are the World Champions and from their last two outings they don’t look like World Champions. However, respect is what England must give them and I know every England player will.

The Wallaby team:

15. Matthew Burke (NSW Waratahs), 14. Wendell Sailor (Queensland Reds), 13. Daniel Herbert (Queensland Reds), 12. Elton Flatley (Queensland Reds), 11. Stirling Mortlock (ACT Brumbies), 10. Stephen Larkham (ACT Brumbies), 9. George Gregan (ACT Brumbies, captain), 8. Toutai Kefu (Queensland Reds), 7. George Smith (ACT Brumbies), 6. Matt Cockbain (Queensland Reds), 5. Justin Harrison (ACT Brumbies), 4. Daniel Vickerman (ACT Brumbies), 3. Patricio Noriega (NSW Waratahs), 2. Jeremy Paul (ACT Brumbies), 1. Bill Young (ACT Brumbies).

Replacements:

16. Adam Freier (NSW Waratahs), 17. Ben Darwin (ACT Brumbies), 18. David Giffin (ACT Brumbies), 19. David Croft (Queensland Reds), 20. Chris Whitaker (NSW Waratahs), 21. Matt Giteau (ACT Brumbies), 22. Scott Staniforth (NSW Waratahs).

England Team To Play Australia

15. Jason Robinson (Sale), 14. James Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester), 13. Will Greenwood (Harlequins), 12. Mike Tindall (Bath), 11. Ben Cohen (Northampton), 10. Jonny Wilkinson (Newcastle), 9. Matt Dawson (Northampton), 1. T Woodman (Gloucester), 2. Steve Thompson (Northampton), 3. Phil Vickery (Gloucester), 4. Martin Johnson (capt), 5. Ben Kay, 6. Lewis Moody, 7. Neil Back (all Leicester), 8. Richard Hill (Saracens).

Replacements:

16. Mark Regan (Leeds), 17. Jason Leonard (Harlequins), 18. Danny Grewcock (Bath), 19. Lawrence Dallaglio (Wasps), 20. Andy Gomarsall (Gloucester), 21. Austin Healey (Leicester), 22. Tim Stimpson (Leicester).

So Lawrence & Grewcock got the chop and Andy Gomarsall assigned into the 22 squad on the bench. I do think Clive Woodward is looking for perfection from all players and to be fair that is hard to do. I must admit I would like to see Gomarsall play. There were some big plays last Saturday and some awful stuff too, I could think of three memorable plays Ben Cohen’s tackle on Blair, Ben Kay’s catch in the line out and our own Jonny Wilkinson’s opportunist try!

England have beaten Australia on the last two outings at Twickenham and I rather think if we play half as well as we did against the All Blacks we will beat them again. Of course this time around we don’t have Dan Luger a brilliant talent! We will of course have the video ref., and I wonder if we will need this again on Saturday?

I am looking forward to a good contest and some exceptional performances by Back, Simpson-Daniel and Jason Robinson, it goes without saying I expect JW to perform out of his skin as usual! It must be the Twickenham air that does it but he can really turn on the style when surrounded by the countries best players and coaching team.

Predictions:

Well last week I got it wrong on the points, but correct on the Win! So this week I will go with the Win again! and sign off with my familiar cry:-

The game's afoot: Follow your spirit; and, upon this charge...

'CRY GOD FOR HARRY ENGLAND AND ST. GEORGE '

Henry V (1599) Act3, Scene1