Australia and England meet in the key match of Pool A at the Rugby World Cup. Will it be the hosts knocked out or Australia left battling to make the quarter-finals? Join The Roar from 6.00am (AEDT) for all the action from Twickenham.
England’s surprise loss to Wales last weekend has left them in a bit of a pickle. Defeat to the Wallabies could see them out of the World Cup on their own soil, which would be a huge disaster.
England shouldn’t have lost to their neighbours after a strong start and building a decent lead. Wales suffered a string of injuries and the home team had the ascendancy in the set-piece and at the breakdown.
But the Welsh battled back and thanks to a raft of English penalties, Dan Biggar’s accurate goal-kicking and an amazing try, they snatched a victory from the jaws of defeat.
It means England will be very fired up for this do-or-die clash. Nothing will be left in the tank in this one.
The home team go into the game a little unsure of their best XV and missing a few key players. Billy Vunipola is out for the rest of the tournament with injury, and he has been replaced by Nick Easter.
Courtney Lawes is also out while there are concerns around Jonathan Jospeh and Ben Youngs, who have both been picked to start.
The Wallabies have a few injury problems of their own. Will Skelton and Wycliff Palu are both off back home, replaced by James Hanson and Sam Carter.
But England has a great recent record against Australia, having recorded back-to-back victories over them at Twickenham in the past two years. The Wallabies’ last win at the famous ground came in 2012.
England will look to exert enormous pressure on the Australian scrum and use their traditional strength in the set-piece. The Wallabies will attempt to control the speed of the breakdown, with both Michael Hooper and David Pocock starting, and to get quick ball to their excellent backline.
Australia has more experience than their rivals, with Dan Cole the only English player to have more than 50 caps. They’re also a touch older on average.
Michael Cheika has painted his team as the underdogs and England have been under heavy pressure from their own media and ex-players. Whether this makes a lick of difference will be revealed on Sunday morning.
Sam Burgess, a player Australian fans may know well, will look to make an impact from the bench.
The Wallabies will be also looking to break a World Cup duck with the English having won in their past three tournament encounters.
Join The Roar from 6.00am (AEDT) for commentary from south-west London.
Follow John Davidson on Twitter @johnnyddavidson
JimmyB
Guest
Cheers RT, I feel that Lancaster and his coaching team really wilted under the pressure of it all. His selections throughout the tournament and leading in have been baffling to say the least.
JimmyB
Guest
That was really disappointing to see and sort of compounded what was happening on the pitch for me. Something I've always been quite proud of as an England fan really is that win, lose or draw we've always supported the team through thick and thin (not to say that we don't criticise them, but we're there in the heat of battle.)
JimmyB
Guest
Right ok, thanks for clearing that up. Very good, well done. I feel suitably cut to the quick.
JR Salazar
Guest
Hunt wouldn't feel out of place, in that case. Point remains.
wardad
Guest
No worries Jimmy ,somehow I cant picture you or Birdy bailing out before the end of the game like some faint of heart types at Twickers .
Sideline Comm.
Guest
Bit harsh. England are way worse, haha.
JR Salazar
Guest
Both choked. Both are losers. The end.
JimmyB
Guest
I'm probably being very dumb or drunk or both, but I don't get it. It's an attempt at a joke right?
JR Salazar
Guest
News flash: Ben Hunt recalled to join England rugby union national team ahead of test match with Uruguay!
JimmyB
Guest
Cheers wardad.
Rugby Tragic
Guest
Well stated JimmyB and gracious when you must be hurting... the expectations were just too high .... the pressure of those expectations can become a burden.
Rugby Tragic
Guest
And mine Don ... incidentally Japan is in the Northern Hemisphere
JimmyB
Guest
Thank you gents. A day spent drowning my sorrows has made me realise that the world keeps turning and judging by today, the sun keeps rising. Credit to Australia once again, it really was a great performance and I suspect some wounds were healed today (and new wounds opened for us England fans). To the victor the spoils and history is always written by winners. I've got broad shoulders and I can take it (I think), Aussie fans should bask in their teams magnificence. Good onya fellas, enjoy the win, it's well deserved.
Rugby Tragic
Guest
Yep TM, we both have been saying that. Different if it was like the 6 Nations or the Bledisloe matches where chance of redemption is but, 12 months away... the RWC is only every four years and the host nation knows it will have home ground advantage in at least another 8 or even 12 years ... the pressure must magnify! I feel that the expectations therefore of the home crowd and fans is much more intense and perhaps even suffocating ...the Poms couldn't handle that expectation and pressure against Wales and increased that pressure to succeed to try and save their tournament against the Wallabies ...
ThugbyFan
Guest
L.Burrell and J.Joseph are the future for England, not plodders like S.Burgess, who was lucky that he didn't get sent off, and B.Barritt who looked pedestrian. Would not be surprised if Burgess is cited for the head shot on Hooper. To my mind L.Burrell and J.Joseph have the potential to be the next Carling-Gusgott centre pairing. And surely England have to start G.Ford instead of the go-slow O.Farrell. As for the forwards, firstly they need a strong speed merchants at No 6 and 7 who can compete in rucks and some forwards with legs as well as beef. But mostly, as M.Cheika has shown, England needs a change in team attitude as to what it takes to win a modern-day rugby match.
hopalong
Guest
Well played Wallabies.
Boosho
Guest
I've got a soft spot for Brisbane 2011 - Samo's try was Radikiless!!!
Boosho
Guest
Where's the Honey Badger?
wardad
Guest
Kudos to the Aussies on the win ,I feel a wee bit sorry for the English team [ just a bit mind you ] and for the genuine English rugby fans like Jimmy.B and Birdy . At least we wont have to put up with that awful rendition of the first 2 lines of the bloody chariot song !
Taylorman
Guest
Yep, it's what we said all along RT. look at the two results. Wales don't often win at Twickers, not without halfpenny and Davies anyway, let alone Webb. And how often do they lose to oz by 20? Home will get you do far, but you have to start winning yo get the crowds behind you. Pool A was a worst case scenario for England. No time to warm into the tournament. And oz and Wales smelt every bit of that fear.