Autumn internationals: England v Australia
Venue: Twickenham Date: Saturday, 13 November Kick-off: 1430 GMT
Coverage: Listen on BBC Radio 5 live and online; text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles; watch live on Sky Sports 1; highlights on BBC Three and online Saturday 1900 GMT and Sunday on BBC Two and online at 1610
 Croft tries to break Hosea Gear's tackle during the 26-16 defeat by New Zealand
England flanker Tom Croft believes Saturday's opponents Australia are international rugby's most sought-after scalp after their win over New Zealand. The Wallabies ended the All Blacks' run of 15 consecutive Test victories with a 26-24 win in Hong Kong on 30 October. "They are the team to beat at the moment, so we've got to be perfect against them," Croft said. Despite a second-half comeback, England were beaten 26-16 by New Zealand at Twickenham last Saturday. But the Leicester back row stated that his side's showing in the second half last weekend was an improvement on England's 21-20 triumph over Australia in June.  | BRYN PALMER'S BLOG |
"If we can build on our performance in the second half last week - which was a step up from what we produced in Sydney, then we will be a tough team to beat," Croft added. "I don't think we're playing catch-up with them at all, the quality of players we have can easily match what they have to offer in all areas of the game." Australia coach Robbie Deans saw his side overcome their own slipshod scrummaging to win 25-16 against Wales in the first Test of their northern hemisphere tour last Saturday. And Croft's opposite number in the tourists' line-up, Rocky Elsom, has warned that England will face a much-improved Wallabies team when compared to the two teams' last encounter. "Certain guys have really improved. Our structures have improved a hell of a lot, which is a good sign for us," former Leinster player Elsom stated. "This game is a new contest so we are not given anything just because guys have improved or we know our game plan a bit better but that has been a pleasing thing from this time last year."  Elsom (ball carrier) was part of an impressive Wallaby back row in Cardiff |
All four of Australia's tries in their win over New Zealand came from a youthful backline that has been heralded as the best in the world, while England were criticised in defeat by the same opposition for a lack of midfield pace. But full-back Ben Foden has stressed that England possess the runners to score tries from long range. The Northampton man, who touched down inside six minutes on his first full international start, has said that England will produce an all-round attacking game. "They've got players capable of striking from anywhere on the field but so have we, with guys like Chris Ashton, myself and Shontayne Hape in the centre and Ben Youngs at nine, we're all capable of making those 50-metre breaks," Foden reflected. "We want to score them from all over the park, not just five-metre scrums or pushovers in the corner. If the opportunities are there then you bet we're going to take them." | TOM FORDYCE'S BLOG |
England manager Martin Johnson was set a target of two wins from the four autumn internationals by the Rugby Football Union. There are Tests to come against Samoa on 20 November and world champions South Africa on 27 November and Johnson said some of his side are still adjusting to the demands of international rugby. "We will be better for playing the All Blacks. One of the guys yesterday said: 'If we had done that in Premiership we would have scored but it wasn't good enough'," Johnson recounted. "It is that recognition from the players that they need to produce 80 minutes of Test match intensity and execution. Everything is about intensity. "The pace of it is faster, more powerful, there are heavier tackles and you get less time. You have to get into that mode."
| 
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
Bookmark with:
What are these?