Everywhere I look I see spitting images
There is so little between England and Australia because all over the field they seem like carbon copies of each other
Front row
The pack are doppelgangers of each other. Both have a front row that likes to scrummage and play. England are uber powerful in this area and now have lads in Kyle Sinckler and Jamie George who love to move the ball, while Mako Vunipola was born to play fly-half. The weakest link is probably Dan Cole in terms of handling, but he can still pass muster in this department. Australia have always been able to handle. They have traditionally been happy to operate with a scrum that was
underpowered but manufactured just enough pill to have an all-court rugby style. This has changed and in the World Cup so far they have been winning scrum penalties and power scrums. It saved them against Fiji and kept them in the game against Wales. Perhaps most pleasingly of all, the Georgians were given an uncomfortable ride all night last week.
Line-out
England are world-class here. You have a Saracen hooker, George, throwing to one of his best mates in Maro Itoje and, in Courtney Lawes, a player he has been on a Lions tour and in umpteen internationals with. Then you have George Kruis ready to join off the bench, with a couple of smaller, lighter back-rows such as Tom Curry they can just lob up in the air. Australia have unearthed a gem in Izack Rodda, who has had a cracking 2019. Rory Arnold alongside him is the original lighthouse at 6ft 10in and a useful pillar to have in the middle, while Michael Hooper leaps athletically anywhere they tell him to. You feel Aussie second-rows do not carry quite the ballast or athleticism of Itoje and Lawes, but they will pass and catch anyone off the park.
Back row
The spitting image of each other. Two low-slung, hard-tackling flankers with a big lump in between them. Curry and Sam Underhill are becoming the main men for England. David Pocock and Hooper have been doing it for years. The “Pooper” boys are ready to welcome the “Kamikaze Kids” and will take anyone on at the breakdown. Pocock was freakishly good against Georgia and he will slowly wrap his giant biceps around any ball on the ground.
I’d back England nine times out of 10, but all Australia ever need is a single chance to win
Curry v Hooper and Underhill v Pocock are carbon copies. Isi Naisarani is Australia’s big dynamic ball-carrier and gets about the park and handles. But Billy is Billy and Vunipola is immense for England.
Fly-halves
Another carbon copy. Owen Farrell and Christian Lealiifano have had to bide their time at centre, but have always wanted to run the show and are being asked to do that on the biggest stage. Both are confrontational and aggressive and will look to put their pals into holes and exploit when sides overcommit on runners. Even their back-ups are the same with George Ford and Matt Toomua master manipulators who could not make it work together at Leicester Tigers. Ford would have had the edge with his kicking game if given the easier ride, but that is something you cannot guarantee.
Midfields
Both have a genuine wall blaster in the centres in Manu Tuilagi and Samu Kerevi, two men as wide as they are tall, with immense shoulders and leg power. If they need to, both can slide down the outside because they have the pace. But in reality, they know what their job is: win some gain lines. Then, once you have put the fear of God into the opposition, they are used as decoys. When they run, the opponent’s 10 assumes the brace position and the damage is done whether they get the ball or not. Both coaches have brought in a 13 they feel can do something special. Henry Slade is more tried and trusted, with brilliant hands and genuine juice. Jordan Petaia is more of an unknown, but is picked to stretch England in the wide channels and looks a real prospect.
Runners who can set the game alight
Kurtley Beale and Elliot Daly. Both blistering runners with great kicking games, awesome steps, immense gas. Over the longer
distances, I back Daly. In the more crowded corridors, I back Beale. What is the key difference? Beale likes to get in at first receiver on the short sides. He makes things happen by picking off lazy defenders with great distribution or attacking close to the ruck and busting the line himself. Daly prefers to play a slightly more orthodox role and is often the strike runner playing off Ford or Farrell as they sweep round. Both are lethal in their own way.
The full-back wingers
Anthony Watson and Reece Hodge. Two full-backs playing on the wing and both comfortable in heavy traffic, though Watson is perhaps sharper. Watson’s injury and continued re-emergence has seen him contribute fully, but without the X-factor we used to see. Hodge has become a certain pick when available and both are key men.
Catch-me-if-you-can runners
Jonny May and Marika Koroibete. The Australian has the short stride length and is hugely powerful, getting out of the blocks super quick. May is more of the 100m or even 200m man. Yes, he has great footwork, but he wants to wind up and set sail. Once he is up and running and in the clear, no one is catching him. Koroibete is more obvious as a midfield ball-carrier and is used to punch holes.
Knockout risk
In 2015, Australia put England out of their home tournament. This time, I would back England to win nine out of 10 meetings with the Wallabies. But all the Wallabies have ever needed is a single chance to win, and this team have more than enough skill and ability to deliver a knockout blow.