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As Australia prepare for their traditional late-spring European Tour, I evaluate the sides the Wallabies will be taking on in their quest for that elusive grand slam. After yesterday covering Italy, I will look now at England.
England
England’s tour of Argentina in June merely boosted the abundance of talent that England head coach Stuart Lancaster has at his disposal.
Players such as wingers Marland Yarde and Christian Wade, loose forwards Matt Kvesic and Billy Vunipola and centres Billy Twelvetrees and Kyle Eastmond excelled in Argentina while filling in for England’s senior players who were with the Lions squad in Australia.
There is every chance that these players will be called up for the end of year Tests.
The likeliest to start are 21-year-old Marland Yarde who is in excellent form for London Irish while centre Billy Twelvetrees is favourite to be at inside centre after England’s first choice centre0pairing of Brad Barritt and Manu Tuilagi were ruled out of the Tests with injury.
A good performance from one of those players who excelled in Argentina in the summer could put them in a strong position to be in the England squad for the 2014 Six Nations and be in coach Stuart Lancaster’s plans for the World Cup.
Moreover, Lancaster has a dilemma in choosing his captain. Either incumbent skipper Chris Robshaw will get the nod or Northampton Saints flanker Tom Wood who skippered England in Argentina.
Robshaw is slightly favoured but his position as captain is in no way secured until Lancaster makes his decision.
England face three games during the end of year Tests kicking off on the second November against Australia.
The Wallaby scrum is a flaw England will back themselves to expose, as they have done in previous games against Australia.
They have to be wary of Australia’s gun fullback Israel Folau. The ex-NRL and AFL player is in good form after his hat-trick against Argentina in Rosario. If Folau gets the ball and sparkles then Australia present a a serious threat from the back.
The following week Twickenham hosts the Argentineans, and the Pumas will hope to get the English to play their style of rugby by getting down and dirty.
The packs of both sides will be tested to the limit but if England can lock the Pumas into a set-piece battle they will have the edge.
On the 16th England finish off the year against the best side in world rugby: New Zealand.
England will have good reason to feel confident as last year they surprised the All Blacks with their intensity, effortlessly blowing them away with an excellent performance.
Granted, the All Blacks were tired after their long season, but take nothing away from England’s performance.
However, the loss of Tuilagi and Barritt will be a blow, as they were the ones who scored tries against New Zealand.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.