Twickenham test has some tasty morsels as England eye record
hink Twickenham tomorrow, think potboiler. It’s the fourth and final duel for England and the Wallabies this season and the chance for the hosts to squeeze out more revenge for their miserable Rugby World Cup exit on the same piece of dirt just over a year ago.
Optimism is thick about hometown heroics tomorrow at Twickenham as the side aims to equal the record of Clive Woodward’s side which claimed 14 wins on the bounce.
Claiming that mark would be another tasty morsel for new coach Eddie Jones to taunt his old teammate Michael Cheika and his Wallabies.
In October last year it was Cheika whose side had all the answers after belting England 33- 13 and sending coach Stuart Lancaster and his men out of the RWC and the nation into sporting torment.
They were wounded by the twin strike force of Michael Hooper and David Pocock at the breakdowns and then garrotted by Bernard Foley’s superb running and kicking. The Wallabies went on to make the final as England agonised before opening the chequebook to Fast Eddie and offering him a four year deal.
Success came immediately and Jones and his squad have yet to be beaten after a Six Nations triumph leading into their mid- year tour and series whitewash of Australia.
Jones has never been shy about engaging the opposition, verbally, and from a position of strength, he has been on the relentless needle against a vulnerable Cheika.
It’s been a tasty by- product and a mini- contest to fill the time before tomorrow’s kickoff where the only verdict will come from the scoreboard at fulltime.
The Wallabies have gone back to the Hooper- Pocock axis of twin breakaways with the No 8 grunt from Lopeti Timani who will not have to contend with injured England powerhouse No 8 Billy Vunipola.
England are also missing injured loosies Maro Itoje and James Haskell who were such crucial players in their initial revival. However, former skipper Chris Robshaw and a retreaded Tom Wood have been in robust form in the November internationals.
This game falls outside that official test window so the Wallabies have lost halfback Will Genia to his French club with Nick Phipps asked to fill those duties.
There are other new men from mid- year on the wing and in midfield where Reece Hodge will be put under heavy scrutiny.
The captains will be up close and personal throughout with Dylan Hartley and Stephen Moore the key men in the set- piece squareoffs and in their ability to work with referee Jaco Peyper and his interpretations.
Penalties will be in play and Owen Farrell is in magnificent kicking form for the hosts while Foley will need to be at his best if the Wallabies are to alter the form guide and tip over England who are already surging uncomfortably towards the All Blacks’ new tier one record of 18 wins in succession.
Foley will need to be at his best if the Wallabies are to alter the form guide and tip over England.