Twickenham will be at capacity when England host the Wallabies on November 18 for a return bout between the two coaches Eddie Jones and Michael Cheika.
Both have myrtle green blood flowing through their veins from their days at Randwick in the Sydney first grade competition – the Shute Shield.
Both won premierships as players and coaches with the Galloping Greens on their way to becoming world class international coaches.
And both share the disappointment of representing NSW as hooker and No.8 respectively, but never rose to Wallaby status. ‘Pissed off’ would be a more accurate description.
Jones was a cheeky little bugger with a twinkle in his eye as a player, while Cheika was universally rated the hard man of the Shute Shield, many would go so far as to call him a thug.
But all that is in the past, the Twickenham tilt means plenty to both.
When Jones took over England in January 2016, England were ranked eighth in the world, and had just become the first host nation to fail to reach the quarterfinals of the Rugby Word Cup.
At the same time the Wallabies had lost the Rugby World Cup to the men in black, and were ranked world number two.
The two countries were poles apart.
Since then Jones has taken England to world number two, winning 19 of 20 internationals with a 95 per cent success rate.
In the same period Cheika has coached the Wallabies to just 11 wins from 26 internationals with a lowly success rate of just 42.31 per cent.
In the process the Wallabies have been beaten by England four times with the cheeky little bugger at the helm.
And that’s really hurt Cheika.
But Twickenham will be different, and why this head to head will be the highlight of the end of year internationals.
The Wallabies have just come off an outstanding win over the All Blacks, having been pipped at the post in their previous clash in Dunedin – so close to regaining the Bledisloe Cup after a 15-year drought.
And who was the successful Wallaby coach when they last held the Bledisloe? Eddie Jones.
(AP Photo/Koji Sasahara, File)
But it’s time to realistically place Jones’ standing as coach of the world number two England.
In those 20 internationals on the Jones watch, not one has been against the All Blacks, and just one against the Boks – a 39-21 victory a year ago.
And England won’t be playing the All Blacks, nor the Boks, this month.
During the same period, the Wallabies have played the All Blacks six times for one win, and played the Boks four times for a win, a loss, and two draws.
Yet the Wallabies are ranked world number three with much tougher campaigns.
But those facts will mean nothing when the two teams run onto the home of rugby.
Cheika has a much more settled side than the previous losses to England, although it would be fair to say Cheika would be a lot happier if Jack Dempsey hadn’t torn a hammie in the final moments of the clash with the Barbarians last weekend.
(Photo by Jason O’Brien/Getty Images)
Flanker Dempsey is one of the exciting youngsters Cheika has promoted, but missing this spring tour has lessened the Wallabies’ firepower in attack and defence.
Those are the pitfalls of international rugby.
As for Michael Cheika, he’s on the threshold of finishing the year with five wins against All Blacks, Japan, Wales, England, and Scotland.
That would do wonders for the Wallabies who now look as though they are starting to believe in themselves.
It’s not Cheika’s fault it’s taken so long, the Wallabies are just slow learners and why supporters have become so frustrated watching big games being butchered by bone-headed mistakes.
But missing just 11 tackles against the All Blacks made all the difference, and why the Wallabies are capable of making this spring tour a bonanza.
Christopher Clarke
Guest
My namesake was right about the England v Wallabies game. Perhaps Fionn should give his so-called Guru badge to someone with a greater grasp of international rugby or with a less caustic view of any English rugby achievement. As has been mentioned by others, Jones was without key players but took the opportunity to gauge the depth of his squad during this series. Nobody at HQ, least of all Jones, was happy with performance against the Wallabies and yet, post-game, I read submissions by some of The Roar's cerebrally-challenged community who reckon that's likely the best England can play!
Lostintokyo
Guest
On a different thread, why on earth is England AGAIN not facing the abs this tour?? And no SA too? Beyond odd.
CJ
Guest
What stood out about England when they beat the Wallabies 3 zip in Oz was that they played hard and intense (if not spectacularly brilliant play) pretty well mistake free rugby for 240 minutes. Wallabies on the other hand cough up too many balls and have this unfortunate habit of then conceding a penalty almost immediately afterwards. But there are very good individual backs and occasionally they can conjure up something magic out of little or nothing. IMO England are just lacking a Jason Robinson type of player. If Tuilagi can remain injury free and out of trouble and get back in the team for an extended period, I rate them as up there with the ABs to win the WC final. If Wallabies can get a world class 6 and 8 and 10 (big guys like Kaino, Read and all round players like Barrett) and another prop in addition to Kepu and stick Folau on the wing, and a reliable goal kicker they could win too. It might be they are secretly, partly moving in that direction and could blindside the opposition in 2 years time - or not. Fingers crossed...
Charlie Turner
Guest
It should be regarded as high rugby treason to support Cheika. The guy's an embarrassment with his petulant tantrums, referee blaming, hair pulling blindness, tactical vacuum and selection of undeserving players. To call Cheika a hardman is revisionist, a thug maybe with cat like tendencies. He dished out the dirty stuff but screamed bloody murder when it was reciprocated. The worst place to be on the field playing against the Greens was under Cheika's boot.
Fionn
Guest
How exactly does criticising Cheika make them not fans? Or do fans have to be yes men who praise everything that he does?
Fionn
Guest
Tell me again why he was worth persevering with? A lock with a low work-rate who was overweight, poor discipline (remember the yellow card that almost cost us vs Scotland on the EOYT last year?) and couldn't jump in the line out doesn't seem particular useful. Keep going with the 'Simon Says', however.
In brief
Guest
Forget the won loss ratio for a moment. You've got to love the way we've been playing. I saw so many positives on the last spring tour that after years of disappointment I finally felt genuine excitement for this team. We had a few hiccups but seem to be getting closer to that potential now. Importantly cheika didn't listen to the naysayers seeking overnight results, stuck to his process and now we see s team with real belief and identity.
In brief
Guest
The guys bagging cheika on the Roar aren't fans and cheika wasn't listening.
In brief
Guest
Skelton was a player worth persevering with. At the time we had no go forward and few guys winning the collision. Skelton won the ruck in both attack and defence and had great hands. I know it become a bit like 'Simon says' on the roar with bagging the guy but I would love to see him called up again.
markie362
Guest
U mean beale the turnstile in defence.farrell for me
adastra32
Guest
Eng should only lose May for their first game of the series - so he should be available for the WBs one.
Kieron
Guest
I agree James H.. whats the big deal about Randwick when talking about test rugby?
kingelderfield
Guest
I am right to say this tour will be the first time the Wallabies have played under the Trial Laws, tackle/ruck etc?
Philip O'Donovan
Guest
David, No I am a realist.
JamesH Dunedin
Roar Rookie
If I had a dollar for every time Randwick rugby was needlessly mentioned...
Redsfan1
Guest
Yes but maybe the Super Rugby coaches deserve some blame? I mean they coach the players for the vast majority of the season and had shocking defensive records. Cheika had to turn that around and you the end of the Rugby Championship he did.
Redsfan1
Guest
I agree David. After losing every single super rugby game against NZ in embarrassing fashion I think its amazing Cheika was able to get the Wallabies to jag a win. You could see the improvement week to week. That's not an accident.
Diamond Jackie
Roar Rookie
100% right. He has been so slow to recognise things many others have seen much earlier.
Diamond Jackie
Roar Rookie
Have to remember too no pocock. Without poey our overall win rate is far far lower than with him. So no poey and no folau means probably no win unfortunately.
cuw
Guest
@ FIONN as at 02.11.2017 ( 'coz this is a fluid situation :P ) Players unavailable due to injury or suspension at the time of squad naming Jack Clifford (Harlequins), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs), Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins), Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors), Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), Billy Vunipola (Saracens) players out since then Elliot Daly (Wasps), Jonny May (Leicester Tigers), Piers Francis (Northampton Saints), Matt Mullan (Wasps), replacements called in Semesa Rokoduguni of Bath