Still BO’D has played with quite a few Irish and non-Irish players across Leinster, Ireland, Lions and Barbarians over the years. So it’s a fine compliment, even if given in a rush of excitement and celebration.

Ioane was one of the few that shone against the ABs – (while Cross has lost his gloss). England will be looking to run at this channel with the new centre pairing.

What is the weather forecast? – if its wet, then surely England will be looking to keep it tight and battle it out with the forwards and at the breakdown where everyone perceives the Wallabies are wanting.

Mostly we seem to be stuck in 3rd gear with a turbo charged engine raring to go. The forwards look better on paper with Smith back at OS and Palu, Elsom will make for a great backrow. That is all very well but the set piece needs to be won and I have little faith in that part of our game.

Our kicking is poor to pathetic and our chasing is often non existent.

I was hoping for a big win against what I think will be our hardest game to win but maybe not our hardest opponents. With my nervous twitch kicking in I would be happy with a one point win. My real guess is Australia by 15 points but I fear your 5 points call.

My take is this: Australia and England both need a win. However, I feel that Australia needs one more. They’ve regressed this season and are in danger of falling off the 3N pace. England improved from a horrible start last season and showed greater direction, tactical nous and understanding during the 6N. Despite being ranked 7th they thrashed what was basically an Argentina 1st xv with their 2nd/3rd string team in the summer, and only lost by 2 points in Argentina. Thus it is a sustainable argument that England can overcome those positioned directly above it. Also, both Ireland and Wales listed England as their toughest opponents of the 6N. Therefore, I believe that SA and NZ currently exist on a separate plane and England, Argentina, Ireland, Wales and Australia are all fighting for praise. In that context the 7th place team must have more room for manouevre/failure than a 3rd place team which has just had a tough warm up game and months in camp.

As a fan I want to see the scrum go well, the pack to secure quick ball, the locks to avoid carrying, the lineout to be dominant, the kicking to be accurate, the tackling and carrying to be agressive, the passing to be accurate and the team to show confidence and no little discipline. Not much then! Beyond that I think that instead of being defensive and scared of copping a beating the absence of so many players will allow England a golden opportunity to improve their squad depth. Players like Hartley, Wilson, Croft, Care, Geraghty, Hipkiss and Monye have a great chance to stake long-term claims as necessities in the white jersey.

Ultimately I think the game will be close. Both midfields are new and potentially dynamic, but the Australian back three has a more settled look about it. This game should be close but with Wilkinson at 10 I feel that much more secure as a fan than the previous AI axis of Cipriani and Flutey, simply due to the experience of Wilkinson. With both packs having a point to prove, reliable players/ ‘legends’ at 10 and an exciting back division I repeat – this game should be close. I’m going for an England win by 5. What do you think, stillmissit?

Maybe GG and the dude I was sitting next to on the plane share a brain and whoever gets up first for the day gets to use it for the next 24 hours.

It may well be said that Cross got limited opportunities with the ball in Tokyo but the bloke cannot defend at 13 at the level – nuff said.

As to try scoring, I’d say:
- Australia have been crap for some time now at scoring tries.
- But everyone is and, very regretably, when teams do open up and try and play a more running and attacking game they invariably come 2nd against the conservative/up the jumper style. Examples are NZ in SA this yearand England v Aus last year. The very sad fact is that if you want to win big test matches, play conservatively and I reckon we’ll see more rolling maul than backline flash on the weekend from the Poms. Credit to Engalnd if we don’t.

Teams like this England team will go one of two ways. It will hopefully fold under in the second half with there selection weaknesses exposed or they’ll galvanise against the obvious weaknesses and drag out a huge performance to bring us down. This is what happened in the RWC game when Tuquiri winked at the camera (wanker) and the Australians looked like they were heading to the beach as nobody gave the Pommies a chance.

Compulsive viewing and the most important game of the tour.

Here’s another headline……how long into the game will it be before Gits and Cooper swap at 10???? Not long, I’m tipping. At last, someone is seeing the sense in this.

And yes……another tip came true……Ioane at 13! There is too much to bear all in one test.

Well, we can’t complain now……at last some common sense selections.

Just need to stick with this basic combination now…….even if we lose.

Only thing is I don’t believe Mitchell deserves his wing spot…….really he’s done nothing all year to deserve it.