Wallaby great Michael Lynagh says former team-mate Brian Smith will turn England into a potent attacking force against his fellow Australians on Saturday.

Lynagh and Smith were once rivals for the Australian No10 jersey but the latter is now a key member of England's coaching set-up under team manager Martin Johnson and has spent the week plotting the downfall of his countrymen. It's a scenario that brings obvious pressures and difficult questions which probably explains why the attack coach has excused himself from facing the media today.

Lynagh, the former Saracens fly-half, is an admirer of what Smith has achieved, both as a player and most recently, as London Irish director of rugby, the role that made him the obvious choice for Johnson.

And the Sky analyst believes Smith can get the best out of talents such as outside-half Danny Cipriani and full-back Delon Armitage, who starred on his England debut in last weekend's win over the Pacific Islanders.

"I like the look of this young England back line under Brian and there is a great crop of players for him to work with in the squad," said Lynagh. "They will benefit from being around a coach like Brian who thinks outside the box. We know Johnno is a 'let's just win' kind of guy and so the combination with Brian is an interesting blend.

"I am hopeful that two teams coached by Brian and [Australia's] Robbie Deans will produce an exciting Test match on Saturday because they have players with real talent.

"Recent history shows us England have been happy to grind Australia into the dirt with powerful scrummaging and they made that advantage count, in the 2007 World Cup quarter-final.

"I am sure Johnno would be happy to grind us into the dirt again if it produced the win at the start of three tough Tests [for England] and that would be understandable. The Wallaby scrum has improved in the last year and with Brian on board, England do possess another threat through their backs.

"Brian, as a player, was a hugely talented athlete who switched from scrum half to No10."

Smith won six caps for Australia but his Test career with them ended after he moved to England to study at Oxford University and play for Leicester Tigers.

That led to him pulling on the Ireland No10 jersey, a move which infuriated many supporters of his new country.

Smith could be facing more flak as he tries to get the better of his countrymen at Twickenham but Lynagh is not among the critics.

"I am sure Mike Catt (London Irish backs coach) put in a good word with Johnno who needed somebody to do the attack role with England and I am thrilled for my old team-mate," said the man who scored a record 911 points for the Wallabies.

"I don't have a problem with Brian coaching the England team against Australia. Our coach is a New Zealander and while you would always hope to have one of 'your own' doing the job, it comes down to who was the best candidate when the post was advertised. That was Deans."

This is a view shared by Eddie Jones, the Saracens director of rugby, who coached Australia in their 2003 World Cup Final loss to England.

He said: "I'm sure both countries would have preferred to choose home-grown guys, but if there isn't anyone then you have to get the best person available.

"The challenge for Brian - someone I used to play against - is to turn talented individuals into a cohesive England unit. That's the real task he faces against a Wallaby team, who have played a lot of big matches this year."