So here we are, can you believe that it’s the final game of England’s autumn series already?
As expected, given Eddie Jones’ side’s form, England have the opportunity to finish the calendar year unbeaten. However Australia have improved significantly since June and know exactly how to spoil a party at Twickenham Stadium.
This week we’ve seen the Eddie Jones and Michael Cheika show play out in full and boy has it been good to watch. As I’ve said before at Out On The Full Eddie Jones is master tactician when it comes to verbal jousting with his opposite head coach and the fact that he knows Cheika so well has added to this week's drama. England's Australian made his first move directly after the Argentina match and Australia's head coach followed earlier in the week. We've seen discussions about scrummaging, chips on shoulders, meetings with referees and more and Eddie Jones has thoroughly enjoyed himself:
“I like to have fun, mate. This week’s been fun. We’ve had a great week here preparing. The media’s had fun - good headlines. Cheika’s had fun and everyone’s enjoying it. It’s great for rugby. There’s nothing better than an Australia England rivalry is there? I think it’s fantastic.”
Jones knows exactly how to pull the right strings from a messages point of view and as a result ensures that home advantage can be played out via us the English media. He never toes the party line and always says what he thinking and that means that the focus has been very much on him while his side quietly prepare behind closed doors. He's straight talking and an extremely astute character and personally I find it fascinating to watch his approach change according to the opponents at hand.
With a three-nil whitewash being the last meeting between these two sides and England continuing on their unbeaten run a question regarding possible complacency was always going to rear its head this week. However it’s something that Eddie Jones has actively discussed with his squad and in my view will never be an issue with this group of England players:
“You're always sitting next to complacency or looking ahead too much. That's a constant battle. We're at our most vulnerable now. I was talking to the players about it this morning. When you win how many games we’ve won in a row that’s when you’re at your most vulnerable. The only way you get over the top of that is to have the correct mindset and that’s an individual responsibility to get right.
“I think from a team perspective we’re in a reasonable state. Individually, over the next 48 hours, the players will find their right state and we need them to be right on the ball.
“At training this week we’ve been a bit iffy at stages. That’s not such a bad thing, it helps to keep complacency from the door. Training quality hasn’t been great at stages. That’s all about learning and getting better. Sometimes you need to have those sorts of training sessions.”
From a personnel point of view Billy Vunipola’s injury is a big blow to England. The type of impact that he has on the field and the character that he is off it will be sorely missed however as with every injury it's an opportunity for another. Nathan Hughes has shown the type of impact that he can have on a game for Wasps and here's a chance to showcase his very best form on the Twickenham stage. The Number 8's physicality in the contact area and ball carrying abilities will need to be larger than life and as a collective it's vital that England's back row deliver to counter the threat of Pocock and Hooper.
In terms of Australia then they are a very different prospect to the side that England faced in the summer. This autumn they've really got their ducks in a row and looked like the team that did so well during the Rugby World Cup. When he's been available Will Genia has been fantastic and will be missed this weekend due to Stade Francais not releasing him so Nick Phipps needs to up the ante. Bernard Foley loves a game at Twickenham Stadium and he must be kept quiet alongside Israel Folau and Tevita Kuridrani. It goes without saying that England’s front three have to continue to provide a solid set piece for the backs and get the better of Scott Sio, Stephen Moore and Sekope Kepu at scrum time.
Without a doubt Australia will come out all guns blazing and it will be up to Eddie Jones' side to match them early on and play a sensible Test match. As England's head coach said this week often matches between England and Australia go down to the final quarter so the role of the bench will be vital if England are to prevail.
Without a doubt Australia will come out all guns blazing and it will be up to Eddie Jones' side to match them early on and play a sensible Test match. As England's head coach said this week often matches between England and Australia go down to the final quarter so the role of the bench will be vital if England are to prevail.
In my eyes the home side are perfectly poised to deliver at Twickenham Stadium, it won't be a walk in the park but they have the tools to deliver. England have the leaders within the side to own this Test match and must channel the power of home advantage and the confidence that comes from their winning run. It's a chance for this England side to again showcase the depth of talent that is housed within this country and take another step towards their goal. Physically England are robust, mentally they are strong and while I expect a huge challenge I believe that England will prevail and finish this calendar year unbeaten.
