The presence of Jonny Wilkinson in the England squad has caused a number of the Australian press to revisit the trauma of the 2003 World Cup final ahead of next weekend's clash between the two nations.

Wilkinson, the chief destroyer of Australia in the showpiece final six years ago, is back to his best this season and, perhaps most importantly, is somehow avoiding injury.

The Toulon star has been plagued by injury ever since that famous win but, while England struggle with a serious injury count throughout their squad, Wilkinson's presence has the Australian press fearing the world.

The Sydney Daily Telegraph had the headline, "Jonny Wilkinson back to torment Aussies", while the Australian said "visions of the 2003 Rugby World Cup final may return to haunt the Wallabies"

Speaking to the Mirror before he picked up a serious injury which has ruled him out of this weekend's Bledisloe Cup clash in Tokyo, Australian vice-captain Berrick Barnes admitted the he and his teammates were expecting to be targeted by Northern Hemisphere opposition this autumn.

"Right now they are probably looking at us and thinking they can knock us off, that we are the easiest of the three southern hemisphere teams to beat.

"What we have talked about over the last three weeks is winning back some respect, not just in our part of the world, but also up north."

365

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