Coach Michael Cheika says moments of truth will test all he’s worked so hard to instil when the Wallabies confront England and the “thunder of Twickenham” on Saturday.
Battered, beaten and under-siege, England risk an embarrassing World Cup pool stage exit, but Cheika knows they could hardly be more dangerous – especially given their home ground advantage – and is adamant they should remain second favourites behind New Zealand to win the World Cup.
He is looking to the mental lessons he’s been drilling into his squad to get the Wallabies through the big pressure moments when the game is in the balance and the decibel level of “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” sung by the Twickenham faithful makes it hard to communicate.
England have a 68.44 win percentage at their spiritual home, up from their regular winning rate of 57.39 per cent.
The noise and hostility will be fiercer than ever for a match which is do or die following England’s stunning 28-25 loss to Wales last Saturday.
The Wallabies, too, would face an uphill battle to reach the knock-out stages should they lose to due to their failure to land a bonus point in their tournament-opening win over Fiji.
“We have been trying to prepare for that for a long time by building our own self-belief,” Cheika said.
“There are going to be tough times there where you are under pressure, and it is about how you deal with that (through) belief that you have that you are going to get out of that situation.
“When the thunder of Twickenham comes, (we need to) have the answers for that.
“That’s what we have been working on – those moments.”
Australia have already been subjected to renditions of the English rugby anthem this tour – during their opening two Pool A victories.
Despite their first-up clash being played in Cardiff, and against Fiji, England fans still managed to fill Millennium Stadium, just as they did at Villa Park in Birmingham five days later when Australia thrashed Uruguay.
As much as it can provide a lift to the home side, it can also unsettle opponents – not least because of the noise which arrives at crucial lineouts late in the match, causing communication issues like those which led to a turnover for the Wallabies at Millennium Stadium.
Cheika believes the key to recovering from those moments, in such an environment, is being able to re-focus quickly.
“For players who know what they’re about, know their role in the team and then can re-focus in those moments, they’re the ones who will succeed,” he said.
“That’s something we knew we would be encountering, so we have tried, as best we can because you can’t simulate it, to prepare a map to get out of the situations.”
He now feels he has a squad with the belief to handle the big moments.
“It is probably an area in the past where we haven’t been as strong because we have lacked a bit of belief in ourselves, to get out of the situation,” Cheika said.
“It is just about not fearing failure and backing what you have prepared and going to it.
“Daring yourself to be good enough and putting it on the line.”
USrugger
Guest
Agree completely! Wallies are in real danger. This is analogous to the Bok response to the Brave Blossoms...only more intense: home ground & honor/dishonor in the offing! The Oz scrum cannot flinch. It has been impressive, but has historically been the Achilles Heel. And Wallie magic in the back will have to be at its very best...cos the Poms will be a scything machine! My sense is the team that kicks best wins. This will be a match of mutual desperation & annihilation. It truly has turned into the Group of Death. One of those Epic Moments in our game. Cannot wait to watch!!!
IronAwe
Guest
Cheers Targa, we need all the support we can get!
wardad
Guest
Sounds sorta like the ABS version of the old Ali ' dope-on-a-rope " strategy . It requires immense trust in your fellow players and yourself and unnatural calm even when behind after the 80 is up . Good luck to the Aussies ,I fear the Englsh may have more than that on their side .
PeterK
Roar Guru
wishful thinking
wardad
Guest
SAUCE !
Nick Off
Guest
GOOSE
Targa
Guest
Good luck ANZAC brothers - Aussie, Aussie, Aussie Oi, Oi, Oi From a Kiwi http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/72509419/dont-fret-its-bonza-to-cheer-for-australia-to-beat-england-in-the-rugby-world-cup
Cramps
Guest
On Saturday we'll find out if the backs were deliberately holding back. It's been said elsewhere on this forum that Cheika has seen a lot of what the Poms will bring, but hasn't given that much away.
Cramps
Guest
I don't buy this. If Wales had lost, everyone would be talking about how dangerous a 'Champion' England side would be. The Wobs have known they'd be facing England either under these conditions or after a victory. Everyone has known for three years! They'll be prepared. England, on the other hand, had a huge build up last week, a big match, multiple injuries, a week of pressure and now they're sweating on replacements. This is the same team who wilted after 65mins last week. Sure, adrenaline will Fire them up. But it's been firing them up all week! And the previous week! They'll run out of puff.
Dave_S
Guest
Yes, it's a load of tosh, but to be fair coaches have to do so much media these days it's no wonder they drag out thoughtless clichés like that. I think he meant "being positive", which is not the same as "not fearing failure". My thoughts were the same on the back-line - I said it elsewhere, they played like accountants, making sure we didn't lose possession and recycling it to the forwards. That's fine in a wet-weather or very high-pressure situation, but not as an overall game plan on a dry track with decent quality ball.
Squirrel
Roar Rookie
The Pooper combination will destroy the English gym junkie sloths.
Dave_S
Guest
With respect Simon, what were the chances that England's players and fans were ever going to take the game against Aust more lightly than they are now? It has surely been on their list as a must-win match for quite some time. If they needed the loss to Wales to fully motivate them, then their setup is sadly amateurish - I strongly suspect otherwise. And I prefer a simpler game plan. 1st half: beat the living sh!t out of them. 2nd half: beat everything else out of them :)
Dave
Guest
12 points up with 11mins to go against a tier 2 side and we...? Kick for goal. Sounds like they certainly feared failure. Cheika might believe it (quietly), but Hooper didn't
idiot savant
Guest
Interesting when Cheika says its about 'not fearing failure'. I wonder how much our lack of penetration in the backs against Fiji was about the fear at 9, 10, and 12 of making a mistake and not getting selected for the A team?
Simon_Sez
Roar Guru
In my opinion Wales have put Australia in a terrible position. England are absolutely desperate and the crowd will be screaming for blood. The effect of the home ground advantage will add so many points that it will bè almost impossible for any side to beat England., even the mighty All Blacks. The first 30 minutes of the match is going to be pure adrenaline from England and Australia is going to get belted. Can the Wallabies defend to within a reasonable score for the first hour? Perhaps a reverse strategy is required? In swimming relay races sometimes you leave your fastest swimmers till last, and let the slower swimmers swim first. As an option, maybe MC could play all the bench in the first half? Let those players have the honour of defending against England to a score which can be clawed back in the last 20 or 30 minutes? Israel Folau and Matt Giteau would make mighty super subs! This would allow MC to hold back his best having them sit back to read the England's game for the first half. The coaching staff could be formulating a plan to come back and finish England off in the second half. Unusual plans to unsettle England!
Pete
Guest
Aussie forwards will be their downfall, as has been the case for over a decade.
RobC
Roar Guru
COME ON Aussie!!!!
Phantom
Roar Rookie
go England