England V Australia rugby: hosts unaware of Toby Flood's role for the first Test
England V Australia rugby: hosts unaware of Toby Flood's role for the first Test
The fault lines that appeared in Australia's preparations for the first Test at the Subiaco Oval on Saturday may not constitute a chasm, but they do suggest that everything in the Wallaby ranks is not as slick as they might like to think.
There was an embarrassing collapse of the disciplinary case against Gloucester lock, Dave Attwood, cited for two incidents of stamping in Tuesday's game against the Australian Barbarians, England successfully arguing that the matter had been procedurally bungled as the citing officer was Australian and therefore not independent.
Attwood, however, is likely to be warned by England about his future conduct and possibly even suspended.
As well as Wednesday's slip-up, it seems that key members of theAustraliasquad seem wholly unaware that Jonny Wilkinson has been eclipsed in the England rankings by Toby Flood. "That would be a surprise if Jonny doesn't start," said Wallaby scrum-half, Will Genia, who is lobbying to convince his own coach, Robbie Deans, that he has fully recovered from a knee injury.
England will once again go with Flood, as they did in their last match of the Six Nations against France in Paris.
In the side to be named on Thursday, Danny Care will partner him at half-back while former New Zealand rugby league international, Shontayne Hape, will make his debut at inside centre, the only change in the back line.
In the pack there will be three changes, Steve Thompson replacing injured hooker Dylan Hartley, Tom Palmer stepping in for Louis Deacon and Tom Croft getting the nod over James Haskell after missing the entire Six Nations through injury. Croft's line-out dexterity was a significant element in Leicester's Premiership triumph.
While Wilkinson's omission from the starting line-up is no longer a major surprise at home, it definitely is for Australians, who still identify him as the man who won the 2003 World Cup for England.
Flood, however, is still very much on trial despite his 29 caps. The Leicester fly-half has to direct operations with the same assurance and positivity as he showed at the Stade de France. Wilkinson will be a notable asset on the bench, a cool head for the end-game.
Alongside Flood, England have been itching to see what Hape can deliver at this level. The 29 year-old has size and good hands although his kicking game is far from refined and his pace unthreatening. However, England believe their back three can prosper from his off-loading game. "He's a smart player, always one with that more time on the ball," England manager Martin Johnson said.
Australia also name their side today and are set to draft teenage full-back James O'Connor into the squad after his impressive hat-trick against England on Tuesday night. Even if Flood's presence suggests that England will be more expansive, wing Mark Cueto made the sensible point yesterday that they would be daft not to exploit their superiority up front.
"Whether we're labelled boring or not, we'll go down that route," Cueto said. "The objective is to win. We know where we're strong."
England have summoned Northampton back-row forward Phil Dowson, who was due to captain the Saxons against Russia in the Churchill Cup in America, as a replacement for Leeds flanker Hendre Fourie, who will return home with calf and ankle injuries.
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