England are stinging from a rocky run of results against some of the world’s best and Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper knows exactly how it feels.
“Welcome to our world,” Hooper said as two nations in desperate need of a win prepare to clash in a season-ending blockbuster at Twickenham.
The battle for the Cook Cup is always intense but the 43rd meeting between Australia and England carries added significance in more ways than one.
Saturday’s (Sunday AEDT) Test match is a precursor to the group stage World Cup meeting at the same venue next year but also represents the final chance to salvage worrying November campaigns.
Both sides have lost five of their past six Tests, with the Wallabies facing the prospect of their worst European tour in nine years.
Hooper believes successive defeats to Ireland and France have masked Australia’s true progress under Michael Cheika but admits a win in the tour finale will at least provide some tangible evidence.
And he knows England will be out for the same, with four of Stuart Lancaster’s side’s past five defeats coming at the hands of all-conquering New Zealand.
“We’ve had two losses in a row now, so for us to get the payoff of a win after five really hard weeks on tour will probably be the major reward,” Hooper said.
“The English had to play the All Blacks three times in a row, then come over here and face more southern hemisphere teams straight off the bat. That’s what we’re used to.
“(The results) are probably an unfair assessment on how they’ve been playing.”
Hooper has rejected suggestions of Saturday’s match doubling as a World Cup trial, saying there’s plenty of rugby still to be played.
But he insists there’ll be many positives to take into next year from Australia’s foray under Cheika, who took on the job in the wake of the text message scandal that led to the demise of Ewen McKenzie.
“The results haven’t been there but we’ve done a lot of good work on this trip,” Hooper said.
“We’ve done a lot of good work off the field and the training has been immaculate. We’ve put some really nice things in place.”
Cheika has made two changes to the side that lost 26-23 to Ireland in Dublin, with NSW Waratahs winger Rob Horne and Melbourne Rebels flanker Sean McMahon earning recalls to the starting side.
Lancaster has picked Billy Twelvetrees at inside centre ahead of out-of-form Owen Farrell and is viewing the match as a “mood shaper” heading into February’s Six Nations.
“We recognise the quality of the side we’re playing against but equally we should back ourselves to do well at Twickenham,” Lancaster said.
“They’ve played some fantastic rugby under Michael Cheika.
“We’ve made one or two changes but we’re confident, ready and we’re looking forward to it.”
The Wallabies plan to wear black armbands as a mark of respect following the death of Phillip Hughes, with the Australian cricketer also likely to be honoured in a pre-match tribute.
AUSTRALIA vs ENGLAND:
Test match, Twickenham, England
* Saturday, November 29, 2.30pm (0130 AEDT Sunday)
* Head to head: Australia 24, England 17, drawn 1
* Last meeting: England bt Australia 20-13, London, November 2013
* Odds: England $1.57, Australia $2.50
Wallabies
Israel Folau, Henry Speight, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Matt Toomua, Rob Horne, Bernard Foley, Nick Phipps; Ben McCalman, Michael Hooper (capt), Sean McMahon, Rob Simmons, Sam Carter, Sekope Kepu, Saia Fainga’a, James Slipper. Reserves to be named.
England
Mike Brown, Anthony Watson, Brad Barritt, Billy Twelvetrees, Jonny May, George Ford, Ben Youngs; Ben Morgan, Chris Robshaw (capt), Tom Wood, Courtney Lawes, Dave Attwood, David Wilson, Dylan Hartley, Joe Marler. Res: Rob Webber, Matt Mullan, Kieran Brookes, George Kruis, James Haskell, Richard Wigglesworth, Owen Farrell, Marland Yarde.
What's it got to do with rugby?
Guest
Welcome to our world, indeed.
Magic Sponge
Guest
If you cant scrum you cant win.
Wardad
Guest
I dunno mate ,it seems to be when they have everything against them that they pull that bunny out . As I always say when going to watch the ABS at Suncorp I dont ever count the win untill I am on my way home and the ABS have scored more .
Adsa
Guest
Mango's are everywhere in Nth Qld at the moment, go Wallyb's!
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
Don't get me wrong, I rate England and would also put them as slight favorites for this game. But not $1.57 vs $2.50. That's the gap I would have had if they had their best players. Just shows the wallabies have become a very beatable side in the eyes of most when they play away games against sides like Ireland or England (even depleted).
Magic Sponge
Guest
I don't think our backs can keep covering our packs weaknesses. England should be too strong against a team that cant scrum.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
The Wallas have to do is get off to a decent start. So far on tour they have been down 7-0 to Wales early, 17-6 against France and then 17-0 last week. I worry they will run out of juice, last week would have taken a lot out of them. I'm guessing the selection of McMahon indicates Cheik wants to run the big Pommy forwards around the park. Not confident about this game.
handles
Guest
Talk to me in the morning.
ABOOS.
Guest
That was just poor coaching and a lack of respect for the players.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
"* Odds: England $1.57, Australia $2.50 " wow that's what bookies think of this aussie side?! England are missing Parling, Tuilagi, Corbisiero, Youngs, Vunipola and a few others so def not the English side we saw last year and we will see next. I don't think the wallabies are a $2.50 side against these guys. Strange odds.
Bazza Allblack Supporter
Roar Rookie
Hearing ALL blacks are chokers got real old... hoping to put the old "can't win a world cup away from home" to bed next year...
Former Kiwi
Guest
I should have read the letters before I bothered to call CH10 to ask what time the match was being shown because I was unable to find it in the TV guides. What a disgrace. The match of the series and it's not being shown. How did this this slip past the ARU or does it just not care. Priorities chaps - look after your supporters or you will be left wondering why people don't bother to turn up at your matches. It's left me and others very disappointed indeed.
runamuk
Guest
Jack, just read an article stating that white is in for Genia and Jones for hogdson, when I read the comments I thought some were just pulling a leg. Jeez, I give up.
Magic Sponge
Guest
Gym junkies with no rugby nous vs the scrum with roller skates but a decent backline. Forwards vs backs game. Who will win will be fascinating and may debunk the myth that backs cant win matches.
Thunderguts
Guest
Is this the venue for the "Doom and Gloom Merchants" conference? or is it the "Sam Stosur Motivational Speech". The English under Lancaster are a pack of lunkheads who OZ should well and truly put to the sword. Cheeks needs to put a plug in the gaping orifice which is Hoopers mouth and stop performing like a seal waiting for a sardine. Have faith OZ supporters even the AB mob want you to win.
Pirates Rugby
Guest
Cliche is the lowest form of wit.
linz22
Guest
I think this is a big issue and it's completely unacceptable that international games are not on FTV. what on earth is going on?? We the fans deserve an explanation!!! I am sick to death of the way rugby fans are treated in this country. I honestly don't know why i support the game anymore when I can't watch super rugby on FTV and now even international games aren't being played. If the ARU want to save the sport in this country there is nothing of greater importance than getting the sport on FTV! People talk about grass roots rugby, but that starts with FTV! You think a talented kids wants to play rugby when they have never seen the sport, or NRL where they get to watch some of the best athletes Australia has to offer play every weekend? The ARU are either grossly incompetent or deliberately sabotaging the game. There needs to be more transparency and communication with the fan base and there needs to be an explanation.
ChrisT
Guest
Even though they're missing half of their own pack?
runamuk
Guest
Its indicative of where both teams are that a win is being predicted by not who we think is better but by who's not the worst. Hopefully genia and cooper can get some good time together so we can have a real comparison between the two halves combos. Go wallabies!
linz22
Guest
Just called Channel 10. Yep not playing the game tonight. Apparently home shopping is more important. that pretty much does it for me. When international games don't even make it to FTV you have to question why you even care when clearly the ARU don't.