England coach Stuart Lancaster says his players must curb their “youthful exuberance” if they are to end their month on a high note with a win over 2015 World Cup group rivals Australia.
A run of five successive defeats ended with Saturday’s 28-9 victory over Samoa at Twickenham, but the wounds left by New Zealand and South Africa in the opening two fixtures of the month will only begin to heal if the Wallabies are toppled.
Some repeated failings were evident against Samoa with missed chances and tactical naivety limiting England to only three tries against opponents distracted by a dispute with their union over mismanagement.
“We have a youthful exuberance about us when it comes to wanting to play a bit, but as the weather closed in we needed to put ball in right areas,” Lancaster said.
“Overall, the ability to play in the right areas of the field against a side like Australia will be important and we need to improve in that area.”
While the performance against Samoa was merely acceptable, George Ford’s accomplished full debut at fly-half is a source of genuine optimism and the 21-year-old is likely to continue pulling the strings against Australia.
Owen Farrell is expected to continue at inside centre as Lancaster gauges the twin playmaking option for a second time, with assured scrum-half Ben Youngs supplying the ammunition.
“It wasn’t a dry day and it wasn’t a game for running rugby. The set plays we used to get George and Owen going were effective,” Lancaster said
Lancaster, who revealed Courtney Lawes is a doubt to face Australia because of a knee problem, was delighted with the finishing of Jonny May, who demonstrated his devastating pace for the first of his two tries.
May’s international career appeared to be hanging by a threat after this year’s tour to New Zealand, but three touch downs in as many games have earned him an extended run in the team.
PA sc
Kirko
Guest
disagree...he's around the park a lot, but when he hits the ruck, there's little effect & then his key job (lineout) he continues to fail. I'd prefer less all over the park running & more bending the opposition with ball in hand & in defence.....and of course getting throws & hooking right.
Squirrel
Guest
Farrell will mean certain victory for the wallabies. The worlds worst international 5/8
HiKa
Roar Rookie
But AAC is probably better at ruck work and Hooper a better offloader, so why not go with Hooper at 13?
Blinky Bill of Bellingen NSW
Guest
Cripes I'm sick of hearing that AAC can't or wont pass the pill. :( I'm tell you, it's a strategy to lull the oppo & then 'whoomaph' it's a simple case of ball around the back (like a magician) to a winger at pace & we're in for an easy 5 points. ;) Mark my words!!!!!!!!!! Adam are you listening?????
Oscar
Guest
Does anyone know who the match officials are for this game
JimmyB
Guest
That's a big miss for Oz and a big bonus for England.
Browny
Roar Rookie
"In attack, midfield selection will be interesting. If no Tevita, then AAC slots back in?" I'd think that's what will happen. I'm not sure who else there is? Short of throwing Speight or English (he is listed as a center with the Rebels but plays on the wing) or someone else right into the deep end, we don't really have another 13 on tour. Might as well play a forward at 14 because they'll be head down in a ruck trying to keep possession of the ball after AAC dies with it.... Hodgson to 7 and Hooper to 14?! haha
Browny
Roar Rookie
I thought Fainga'a was one of our best last week. got through a mountain of work
atlas
Guest
Vunipola - why we won't/can't see him this test - last weekend he suffered concussion playing for his Saracens club in their loss to Northampton. Thomas Waldrom, 31,comes into a 34-man squad to replace Billy Vunipola but is unlikely to make the match day 23. Waldrom last played for England in his fifth test in February 2013. Northampton first-five Stephen Myler, who kicked 16 points for Saints in the win over Saracens, has also been brought back into the England squad after an earlier hamstring injury dashed his hopes of early involvement in the November tests.
ROTUMA ISLAND
Guest
according to Planetrugby Kuridrani will miss the game against England with an ankle injury so looks like AAC (Mr I Can't Pass) will move to Center.
RobC
Roar Guru
England weakness as it has been for the last couple years, is the midfield. The strength is the pack, including set piece. Poms are going to dish it out plenty. Will be a good test for the WB defence and rucking. The scrum on the other hand, maybe hard to watch - esp bench. I think (hope) the starting WB scrums will hold well. Depends who Cheika picks at six. In attack, midfield selection will be interesting. If no Tevita, then AAC slots back in?
m0b1us
Guest
I reckon if we (England) keep it tight, maul a lot with the same lineout accuracy we've been getting and kick to grass we'll edge it. We also need to play for both halves of the game. If we play like we did against SA (i.e. everybody wearing boxing gloves) then we'll lose. I though the intensity of your defence was very good against Ireland and the angles in your scrum are starting to look a lot better - I only watched the first half though as I wanted to see Wales get a flogging from the ABs :-)
Magic Sponge
Guest
Australia will beat them easily in th backs. Folauwill carve them up
Kirko
Guest
Whilst I don't take much of what they say seriously - i'm hoping the forecasters are right this time, forecast is to be mainly sunny & dry on Saturday at Twickenham. Was icey this morning - coldest day since last winter, but its meant to get milder as the week progresses. Bodes well for good running rugby which on current form only suits one backline. But the battle in the pigs is where the English will try and keep this & that's where Wallabies need to man up. For me, Carter offers little oomph and so will again offer little impact. Despite being caught by the Irish defence a couple of times, I thought Jones had impact across the pitch & made his presence felt & so I hope MC gives him another go...you can guarantee he'll be using better body height from now on. Big fan of McMahon, but think we need a bigger 6 at the moment. Hooker is an issue - we won numerous turnover ball on Saturday, but handed it straight back through poor lineout throw or not hooking the ball on our feed in the scrum....Fa'ainga has to go - give the young Hanson a start - at least there's a future in him. Surely Tamooua starts again & i'd like to see a Phipps, Cooper Tamooua line-up given a chance from the start.
JimmyB
Guest
ABOOS, just checking, but you're Tane aren't you?
Buzzard
Guest
England will beat the WBs! The WBs forwards can't go 60 mins let alone 80 mins which is where it will be lost. In defence of Cheika, he really was thrown in the deep end for this tour. Losing by 3 pts to both France & a very good Irish team, both team at their best isn't too bad for a WBs team missing a few top players, still relatively inexperienced. The WBs are a side that at the 2015 RWC are capable of stealing the prize???
Birdy
Guest
I think it's a game that could go either way. England's pack look stronger to me, but I was very impressed with Wallabies backline against Ireland. Unless England dominate upfront, the Wallabies win this one in my book as the England backline is in disarray with injuries and loss of form. Likely to be close either way.
"Bowled Shane"
Guest
Won't Sam Burgess be England's 12 at the world cup?
wre01
Roar Guru
This is just a standard throw away line from a coach- "we'll need to be better next week". The Wallabies are in all sorts of trouble against England. I am a Cheika fan but you have to say allot of his prophecies are coming true: (a) Robinson is in all sorts of trouble with the new scrimmaging laws. (b) Skelton is not ready for test rugby, he has neither the fitness or scrimmaging prowess. (c) Hooper struggles to provide leadership stability at key moments in games, particularly over the last 15 minutes of tests. Cheika really needs to have a think about whether he has the cattle to play the way he wants to this week at test level. No Potgeiter, no Elsom and a half back who isn't a great distributor. I'd be seriously thinking about Genia and Cooper coming in and then praying that it's a dry day in SW London.
RodMac
Roar Rookie
I was having a chat to an English mate last night about the Farrell issue (I haven't been following it very closely, but he seems as exasperated as you). From what I gather, Farrell isn't indispensable enough to warrant selecting him out of position at 12. He isn't big enough to take the hit up when it's needed and probably doesn't have the positional awareness to know when that's required anyway. An extra yard of pace wouldn't hurt him either. I'm sure England will get it together at least to a degree at some point with a few injured players returning...hopefully not this week!!