Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has called on his team to put the mind games of him and Eddie Jones out of their own heads and focus on ending England’s hopes of remaining unbeaten in 2016.
England are undefeated in 12 matches under Jones with their last defeat coming against Cheika’s side in the Rugby World Cup at Twickenham last year in the penultimate game of the ill-fated Stuart Lancaster reign.
Should the tables be turned on Saturday (Sunday 0130 AEDT) it would be a 13th successive win for the hosts and a perfect calendar year for the first time in their history.
But Cheika, who has been exchanging barbs with Jones all week, is aiming to avoid history himself in London with a defeat meaning he would be the first Australian coach to preside over nine losses in a season.
“The fun is over now. Kick-off is 24 hours away and the players take over now,” Cheika said.
“The players are in charge and the team that plays best on the day will win.
“All the other stuff is just a sideline. It’s a bit of fun and a laugh, but the time for that is over and it’s about concentrating on the match now.
“We’ve had a bit of fun with it all, but the fun business really starts on Saturday when the players get stuck into each other.”
That last meeting at Twickenham was arguably the high point of the Cheika reign with the team using the victory as a platform to reach the World Cup final.
That match saw Bernard Foley score 26 of the team’s 33 points and Cheika said the challenge of playing at one of rugby’s most iconic and atmospheric venues is one he and his players cannot wait for, despite their grand slam hopes being extinguished last weekend in Dublin.
“I’m not sure we gave them a hiding then because that was genuinely a tough game,” he said of that 33-13 win.
“It was a good night, but we’ve had some tough games with them since.
“Twickenham is a great place to play rugby with a passionate crowd and when you see the little pockets of gold shirts, you gravitate towards them because you need all the help you can get when you’re in the lion’s den.”
The match will also be the last to be played by star back-rower David Pocock, who’ll take a six-month sabbatical ahead of a six-month spell with Japanese side Panasonic Wild Knights.
Skipper Stephen Moore said the team were desperate to send the outstanding Brumbies flanker out on a high note.
“David Pocock will want to go out in the right fashion and the team wants to send him out in the right fashion,” Moore said.
“He’s been a big contributor to the team this year and has made the decision to take some time off, so we want to make it a good finish for him.”
Richard Patterson
Roar Rookie
Appreciate your thoughts Chivas. It was certainly a unique set of circumstances this year that an ex. Wallaby coach was coaching to beat the Wallabies and recruiting other former Wallabies as part of the crusade. Bottom line is it will all count for nothing once the game kicks off but in a week that had few other distractions, I wonder if rugby in Australia missed an opportunity to better promote itself - and the virtues of tonight's game. There will be some real positives tonight around match-up's, playing styles and use of possession. Somehow we heard little of all that, but did hear a lot of name calling.
Chivas
Guest
So he was schooled.. now he responds he is being a six year old. I think he has actually handled himself with dignity and I haven't always thought so highly of his conduct at different times. But in answer to your rhetorical question. Yes in all sport there is a bit of to and fro. Your view seems to be either get schooled or behave like a six year old. Fortunately I imagine your opinion doesn't count too much in circles that matter.
Richard Patterson
Roar Rookie
"Just a bit of fun and a laugh". Really Michael? Didn't sound like a lot of humour in the tone of your damning remarks on Eddie Jnrs and Glen Ella through the week. All this of course after saying nothing in June and being rather schooled on and off the field by Jobes and England. The sad reality for me is I'm not sure anyone has won with this week's exchanges. Rugby prides itself on having thoughtful, intelligent men in key positions of responsibility and both Jones and Cheika looked little more than a couple of 6 year olds in a sand pit this week. Is this what rugby in Australia has become as the competitive sporting landscape around it intensifies?