Rookie Quade Cooper is under express orders not to overplay his hand after being thrown into the hot seat for the Wallabies’s most significant match of Robbie Deans’s 25-Test coaching reign.

Deans’s daring selection of the mercurial Cooper and the explosive Digby Ioane as an untried Test centre pairing for Saturday’s high-stakes encounter with England has added another intriguing edge to the Wallabies’s grand slam tour opener.

With six defeats in their past seven Tests, the Wallabies are battling to avoid their most barren run since Eddie Jones was sacked as coach after presiding over one solitary win from nine matches in late 2005.

While Deans’s position seems secure, fickle fans will be quick to the trigger if his selection gamble backfires and the Wallabies’s grand slam hopes evaporate at the hands of the weakest England team to grace Twickenham in years.

Deans, though, has every faith in his new-look midfield, saying Cooper commanded a second Test start after his “coming-of-age” display in Tuesday’s big win over Gloucester.

And Ioane confirmed in his eye-catching comeback game on the wing against New Zealand last week that he needed to be closer to the action.

Often criticised as erratic and careless, Deans believes 21-year-old Cooper has blossomed into a responsible playmaker worthy of a chance to direct the Australian backline in tandem with midfield general Matt Giteau.

“Gits will be calling the shots obviously and he’ll direct it the way he sees fit but I think you will see both players in both roles,” Deans said, freeing up Cooper to step into flyhalf at stages, just as it was planned Berrick Barnes would before breaking down in Tokyo.

Cooper is aware, though, his attacking licence has restrictions, with Deans warning him of the perils that his signature wide passing game can bring.

“England will look to feed off those,” Deans said.

“He’s got a passing game, just as he’s got a kicking game.

“He’ll be pretty clear in his own mind what his role will be. The message will simply be ‘enjoy’.

“(But) making decisions to serve the team is pretty important in those servant roles, because that’s what they are. If you chase your own interests all the time, it can hurt.”

Ioane has a golden opportunity to make the Australian No.13 jumper his own after former captain Stirling Mortlock was on Friday ruled out of the tour after again tearing his calf injury.

Mortlock had been due to join the Wallabies in Dublin on Sunday and be available for the Tests against Ireland, Scotland and Wales, but re-aggravated the muscle during his final run before his scheduled departure from Australia.

Mortlock’s setback seriously stretches Australia’s midfield resources, with fellow centres Berrick Barnes (ankle) and Rob Horne (hamstring) having already been sent home from the tour.

Ioane confessed to knowing little about England’s centre pairing, with the injury-hit hosts fielding a backline of mostly Test rookies – with the exception of World Cup-winning five-eighth Jonny Wilkinson.

But having Wilkinson back in the mix after 18 months in the international wilderness is enough to have the Wallabies on guard against complacency.

“There’s nothing in it at this level. You can’t take anything for granted. The moment you do, it bites you,” Deans said.

“We’ve got an opportunity to chase a result and we’re pretty excited about that, but we’re presuming nothing.”

AUSTRALIA v ENGLAND FACTBOX
All venues: Played: 36, Australia won 21, lost 14, drawn 1
In England: Played 19, Australia won 8 wins, lost 10, drawn 1

Last 10 matches
2008: Australia 28-14, London
*2007: England 12-10, Marseilles
2006: Australia 43-18, Melbourne
2006: Australia 34-3, Sydney
2005: England 26-16, London
2004: Australia 21-19, London
2004: Australia 51-15, Brisbane
*2003: England 20-17, Sydney
2003: England 25-14, Melbourne
2002: England 32-31, London
*denotes World Cup match

Biggest Australian win (margin) at all venues: 76 (76-0) Brisbane 1998
Biggest Australian win (margin) in England: 16 (19-3) London 1984
Heaviest Australian defeat (margin) at all venues: 17 (20-3) London 1973 & (23-6) London 1976
Heaviest Australian defeat (margin) in England: 17 (20-3) London 1973 & (23-6) London 1976

Teams
Australia: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Peter Hynes, Digby Ioane, Quade Cooper, Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau, Will Genia, Wycliff Palu, George Smith, Rocky Elsom (capt), Mark Chisholm, James Horwill, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson. Replacements: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Matt Dunning, Dean Mumm, David Pocock, Luke Burgess, Ryan Cross, James O’Connor.

England: Ugo Monye, Mark Cueto, Dan Hipkiss, Shane Geraghty, Matt Banahan, Jonny Wilkinson, Danny Care, Jordan Crane, Lewis Moody, Tom Croft, Steve Borthwick (capt), Louis Deacon, David Wilson, Steve Thompson, Tim Payne. Reserves: Dylan Hartley, Duncan Bell, Courtney Lawes, James Haskell, Paul Hodgson, Andy Goode, Ayoola Erinle.

Kick-off: 2.30pm (1.30am Sunday AEDT)
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (Nzl)
SportsAlive: Australia $1.51, England $2.55

© AAP 2012

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