Australian coach Eddie Jones doesn’t share his England counterpart’s pessimism over the state of English rugby.
On Tuesday, England coach Clive Woodward said his side, which this month lost two successive matches to New Zealand, would never be easier to defeat than in Saturday’s World Cup final rematch against the Wallabies.
Jones, never one to shy away from a slanging match with Woodward, called the claims ”rubbish.” And Jones, winless against England in five tests since 2001, said Woodward’s comments were purely designed to ”to take pressure off himself.”
Woodward cited a string of injuries, suspensions, retirements and an extended season stretching almost 12 months to explain England’s fall from grace.
Since beating the Wallabies 20-17 in the World Cup final in Sydney last November, they have won only three of seven tests to drop to number two in the International Rugby Board world rankings, behind the All Blacks.
”When you’ve won three of seven tests this year you want to take a bit of pressure off yourself,” Jones said.
”No one was complaining in June of last year when they came out and beat New Zealand and Australia. There wasn’t any signs of tiredness then. Why are they tired now?”
Several of the English players failed to train fully with the squad on Wednesday due to injury — Richard Hill has an ankle injury, Trevor Woodman a shoulder injury and Mike Trindall has injured his hip. However, all three are expected to be included in the side when it is announced on Thursday.
Richard Hill (ankle), Trevor Woodman (shoulder) and Mike Tindall (hip) failed to train fully with the English squad Wednesday but are expected to be in the side when it is named Thursday.
In the only two changes to the Australian side that beat Scotland 34-13 in Sydney June 13, Matt Giteau comes into the starting lineup at inside center while Mark Gerrard is included in a Wallabies squad for the first time on the bench.
A sellout crowd of more than 50 000 is expected for Saturday’s match.
The Australian line-up will contain: Joe Roff, Wendell Sailor, Stirling Mortlock, Matt Giteau, Lote Tuqiri, Stephen Larkham, George Gregan (captain), David Lyons, Phil Waugh, Radike Samo, Nathan Sharpe, Justin Harrison, Bill Young, Brendan Cannon, Alastair Baxter.
Replacements: Matt Dunning, Jeremy Paul, Daniel Vickerman, George Smith, Clyde Rathbone, Mark Gerrard, Chris Latham. — Sapa