The Australia-England game is usually one of the most anticipated rugby events of the season, but this year the build-up has been somewhat muted... probably because neither team is very good.

In this week's big head-to-head, Rob Peters and Tim Human thrash out which team is worse. Rob gets behind the Aussies, while Tim reckons the English have the muscle to put the Wallabies down.

Australia may have picked up the wooden spoon in the Tri-Nations this season, but then England are not in the same league as the Springboks or the All Blacks, says Rob Peters.

South Africa finished last in the Tri-Nations last season. Before the November tour the European unions were all rubbing their hands in glee, anticipating a rare win over southern hemisphere opposition. They do it every year, and generally the wooden spoonists from the Tri-Nations are considered the ‘soft target’. The only problem is that a weak team down south does not translate into a weak team up north.

England thought they were in with a chance against the Boks last year around this time. What happened? The Poms got a smack, Martin Johnson endured one of the most embarrassing post-match interviews ever, and Bok coach Peter de Villiers could breathe again.

The South Africans may have struggled against the Aussies and Kiwis in 2008, but they enjoyed a clean sweep on their year-end tour. There is a considerable gap between the northern and southern hemisphere teams, and, if anything, it is only getting bigger.

Australia may be struggling at the moment, but it is worth remembering who they have been losing to — the two best teams in the world.

In fact, the last game the Wallabies won was against France, who are largely considered to be the best team in the northern hemisphere at present. Why on earth would we suddenly believe that the Australians will come up short against an average England team already gutted by injury?

Traditionally England best Australia up front, but this year has seen a remarkable growth in the Wallaby pack of forwards. Despite finishing last in the Tri-Nations, the Wallabies excelled up front, and they will not take a backwards step against England in the set-pieces, so the English can kiss that advantage goodbye.

What else do they have? Well, they do have Jonny Wilkinson, but he cannot win this Test alone. The English press may lead us to believe he can, but the rest of us know better, don’t we?

At the end of the day it is fair to say that the Wallabies are not great, but then England are worse.

  • On page two, Tim Human explains why England — injuries and all — will outmuscle the Wallabies.


    Page: 1 of 2 - next
    RSS
    Digg
    de.li.cious
    facebook


    Print this page
    Send this article to a friend