Rugby World Cup: England v Australia, Wallabies wary of pacy Poms

THE media focus may be trained heavily on England’s midfield but the Wallabies won’t be taking their eyes off the threat of the Pom’s pacy back three.

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THE media focus may be trained heavily on England’s midfield but the Wallabies won’t be taking their eyes off the quicksilver threat of the Pom’s pacy back three for a second.

You know things have really changed in rugby when pre-match talk about a Wallabies-England game at Twickenham is around a strong Aussie scrum and dangerous England backs who can score sizzling tries.

But that is what has unfolded after a year where the Wallabies’ work to improve their set-piece came as England decided their wings and fullbacks weren’t just on the field to chase kicks.

Speedster wings Jonny May and Anthony Watson, and highly regarded fullback Mike Brown, shape as real threats for Australia on Sunday morning after starring not just at the World Cup, but all year.

England's fullback Mike Brown (R) celebrates scoring a try during a Pool A match of the 2015 Rugby World Cup between England and Fiji at Twickenham.

Watson humbled a French rival with pace in a World Cup warm-up game, and Brown was man of the match with two tries in England’s first up win, assisted by May.

“They’re all players who can beat you one on one and if they create space for them and give them opportunity they will be good enough to do it so we’ve just got to make sure we defensively don’t give them that room and we shut them down,” Wallabies halfback Will Genia said.

Until the Wales’ loss, normally dour England had adopted a more attacking identity in 2015, scoring an average three tries per game and a very Southern Hemisphere-like 27.7 average points per Test.

The Sam Burgess-Brad Barritt midfield last weekend was a defensive shift, and it has been widely criticised.

Anthony Watson celebrates with team mates Mike Brown (L) and Jonny May during an England training session.

Former Ireland centre Gordon D’Arcy wrote a scathing — but thoroughly argued — column yesterday labelling Burgess “naive” and “embarrassing” on the defensive misreads he committed against Wales.

England have quickly rushed back the more attacking Jonathon Joseph to no. 13 to meet Australia​ and benched Burgess​, although the excellent halfback Ben Youngs remains in doubt.

“Their backline is very, very classy,” Genia said.

“Mike Brown at fullback who’s very silky and very good under the high ball. As of late they’re been kicking the ball a fair bit and he’s very good of regaining it.

“Ben Youngs is obviously an exceptional player who played very well before he went off and their whole backs three, Johnny May and Watson, I think. They are all very silky, very quick.

“It gives them a different dimension, I guess to their game. They can attack you from anywhere but they not only have the talent in the forwards but in the backs. Defensively, it’s going to be a tough job, a tough night but you wouldn’t expect anything else from a World Cup match.”

Originally published as Rugby World Cup: England v Australia, Wallabies wary of pacy Poms