Wallabies focus on England

By Jim Morton
September 25, 2007

AUSTRALIA faces Canada on Saturday but its eyes are firmly on England as it cranks up World Cup quarter-final preparations.

England is no certainty to overcome Tonga and qualify for a 2003 final rematch against Australia but the Wallabies preparations beg to differ.

While coaching and support staff have a pile of untouched stats on Tonga, they are methodically researching England and will introduce England-specific drills into training.

Australia will field a largely second-string team for their final pool match against the Canucks in Bordeaux though lock Nathan Sharpe and flanker George Smith will play after missing the Fiji match.

Coach John Connolly said he'd operate with two packs at training this week, his main group to focus on the big English forwards.

Although the defending champions are facing the dim prospect of completing the worst ever title defence, Connolly remains wary about their set-piece play, Jonny Wilkinson's boot and their pace out wide.

"They're dangerous," Connolly said. "England have got a scrum, a lineout, we know what Wilkinson can do and they have a lot of pace out wide."

There will be few surprises on Wednesday when the Wallabies selectors name their team to play Canada. The only minor shock could be desperate winger Lote Tuqiri given another run.

Connolly has said he wants to give all his back-ups a start and rest his first-choice players but Tuqiri is hungry for game time and tries after playing just three Tests in four months before the World Cup.

The millionaire signing looked on with envy as Drew Mitchell crossed for a hat-trick and Matt Giteau two in the 55-12 win over Fiji.

Scott Staniforth's shoulder injury may ensure incumbents Tuqiri and Drew Mitchell stay on the wings.

If Staniforth is fit, he'll start at inside centre but if not Julian Huxley would move from fullback and Cameron Shepherd change from wing to No.15.

Connolly confirmed David Lyons would start at No.8 and Stephen Hoiles would remain on the bench.

Super-sub Hoiles and third-string hooker Sean Hardman will be the only two of the 30-man squad not to get a start on the pool stage.

"By the end of this Saturday, everyone will have been involved in a game," Connolly said.

AAP