Australia v England: Bob Dwyer rules out chance of Wallabies upset
The Wallabies have fallen so far that former national coach Bob Dwyer gives the Australians no chance of defeating England this weekend.
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The Wallabies have fallen so far that former national coach Bob Dwyer gives them no chance of defeating England this weekend.
“I don’t see where we can exert our superiority over them,” Dwyer told The Daily Telegraph.
“I don’t think they’ve got the strength or pace or agility or skill to construct any form of game that would give us a win.
“It’s sad and I actually think that a lot more needs to be demanded of Rugby Australia-contracted players.”
Such stinging criticism from the former Wallabies mentor is bound to fire up the team ahead of their final match of the year.
If England win, it will be the first time the Wallabies have lost six games in a row against them since the first Test between the nations was played 109 years ago.
Dwyer said Australia’s only hope of winning was to start Adam Ashley-Cooper at outside centre, and bring Samu Kerevi to inside centre as a crash-ball runner outside five-eighth Matt Toomua.
“Picking that backline would allow us to play much more frontline play,” Dwyer said.
“I thought Adam Ashley-Cooper was excellent last week against Italy, he showed exactly what accurate fundamentals of the game do for you.
“His lines of running, and lines of support, were immaculate.
“Toomua keeps the backline straight. With Toomua, Kerevi and Ashley-Cooper we can really question their defence.”
England coach Eddie Jones had hinted that he expected Dwyer to criticise his side, but instead the man who guided Australia to victory in the 1991 World Cup is more concerned about the Wallabies.
“Australia’s lineout has been struggling so of course England will target their set piece,” Dwyer said.
“I think the scrum has been going pretty well, I think Sekope Kepu has never played better but they’ve been playing him off the bench.
“But having said that, I don’t see where Australia can beat England.”
Wallabies lock Izack Rodda, who had his best game in a gold jersey last weekend against Italy, knows England will be far more dangerous in the lineout.
“They have quite a strong lineout, attack and defence, and a lot of movement and a lot of good jumpers. It’s going to be a challenge but we’re ready for the challenge,’ Rodda said.
“Their defensive lineout is quite strong. They have a lot of different setups which makes it harder for the caller to work out where they’re going to call.
“For instance, [Maro] Itoje will be at the front at some lineouts but at the back at others and they just change their personnel around and play tricks with you when you’re trying to work out where to call.”
Rodda said every member of the forward pack had to be switched on to retain their lineout ball.
“I reckon our own drill, through our knowledge and our triggers and just the hookers, it is basically just ourselves, if we are all on we will go well,’ Rodda said.
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