Expert
Having been humiliated by the French last week, the Wallabies carry a lot of baggage when they take on England at Twickenham early tomorrow morning.
It’s real crunch time for both coach Robbie Deans and the men-in-gold. But if playing at the home of rugby doesn’t generate enough adrenalin to wipe out the French nightmare, none of them have any right to be called Wallabies.
There have been three worrying decisions made for this international:
And there are five more musts for tonight.
Skipper Nathan Sharpe must read the riot act in general play to any of his troops who make the same repeated basic errors that were made against France.
Wingers Ioane and Nick Cummins must be given ball in hand with time and space, and not have to go searching for it.
Flanker Michael Hooper must cut his penalty count to zero.
Half-back Nick Phipps must decide which option is best well before the ball becomes available, He has five seconds to clear, Phipps is allowed just one.
And Tatafu Polota-Nau must consistently find his lineout jumpers. There are far too many times when he couldn’t hit an elephant in the backside from five metres, tonight can’t be one of those nights.
If those five requirements are met, and the Wallabies are given the freedom to run the ball, the knockers can be silenced.
Anything less and it’s two losses from two, with two to go on the Spring Tour.