Wallabies vow to remain composed should England attempt to bait them in series decider

The Wallabies are ready for anything England throws at them in Saturday night’s series-deciding Test at the SCG.

Nic White is preparing for niggling tactics from England. Picture: Chris Hyde / Getty Images

Wallabies halfback Nic White has promised his side will remain composed when faced with the likelihood of a “surprising” amount of English niggle in Saturday night’s deciding Test at the SCG.

The battle for the Ella-Mobbs Trophy is locked at 1-1 after England beat Australia 25-17 in last Saturday night’s second Test of the series at Suncorp Stadium.

The Wallabies fought back after trailing 19-0 but it wasn’t enough against an English side not afraid to bait the hosts with some questionable actions.

Prop Ellis Genge was particularly keen to get under the Australians’ skin.

Genge repeatedly hit Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper in the chest with an open hand after England’s only try of the game.

Later, Genge continued his assault on the Australians when he drove his elbow into the head of White, who was lying on the ground.

England prop Ellis Genge wasn’t afraid to bait the Wallabies. Picture: Cameron Spencer / Getty Images

“Ellis has got that in his game,” White said.

“I knew if he got a chance to get his hands on me he’d have a crack at me but there’s nothing malicious in terms of words.

“It’s just he’s got a chance to get his hands on me and he thought he’d make it known. That’s just rugby and I’d expect nothing less this weekend.”

That’s despite White being somewhat “surprised” by how much niggle England has resorted to – including the actions in Perth of Jonny Hill in Australia’s first Test win which got a retaliating Darcy Swain sent off – in the series.

“You have to be careful around these areas in how you retaliate,” White said.

“With the Genge one, I was being asked to calm down … I thought I was pretty measured.

“You have to be careful. We know there’ll be a fair bit of niggle. There has been in the first two games and there will be again in this game, but we’ll be doing our best to just concentrate on the rugby side of things.

“At the end of the day, it’s a game of rugby and the only thing that matters is who wins.”

A series-clinching victory on Saturday night would be the perfect way for White to celebrate his 50th Wallabies appearance.

“I felt like we were coming back with tails up (in the second Test), but we just didn’t execute a few of those moments in the second half and we executed those in the second half in the first Test,” White said.