England warned to prepare for the Rocky horror show

Chris Jones
3 Nov 2009

England have been warned they could face an Australian backlash at Twickenham on Saturday, led by Wallabies skipper Rocky Elsom.

The flanker was crowned European Player of the Year after helping Leinster win the Heineken Cup last season and is now trying to revive his young international team, who have lost six of their last seven games.

Former Wallaby coach Alan Gaffney is now in charge of the Leinster backs and having witnessed Elsom's skills up close he believes the 26-year-old is a potent weapon in a side boasting talent but lacking winning momentum.

Gaffing said: "Rocky was phenomenal for Leinster and there isn't anything he cannot do in rugby.

"He has a fantastic work ethic and puts in a lot of extra skills and fitness work to make himself a real force and his understanding of the game has come on a lot.

"He gets the respect of all of his team-mates because here is a guy who will give you everything week in, week out and that's pretty rare these days. As a coach, you can look Rocky in the eye after a match and know that he has given absolutely everything for the cause and that's what the Wallabies need at the moment."

After a disastrous Tri-Nations, where they won just one match, the Aussies suffered another defeat on Saturday, going down 32-19 to New Zealand in a Bledisloe Cup clash in Tokyo.

Gaffney, though, believes England should not take anything for granted.

He said: "Australia's record isn't good but I saw signs against New Zealand of a young team starting to get things right with Rocky in charge.

"There is no doubt that this Wallaby team is an up and coming outfit and while they may lack experience, particularly in the backs with Stirling Mortlock out injured, the set piece is solid and they can normally rely on the line-out for good ball, although that wasn't the case on Saturday when it was a bit of a disaster.

"While there will be a lot of pressure on Rocky on this tour - he will have to take a lot on his own shoulders - and Australia are seen as the weakest of the Tri-Nations at the moment, there could be a sting in the tail for England."

Australia will look to fly-half Matt Giteau to control a back division that Gaffney rates highly. " Rocky will need Matt to take the game by the scruff of the neck," he said.

Giteau will keep a close eye on his returning opposite number on Saturday - Jonny Wilkinson. The 30-year-old, who has been in fine form for French club Toulon this season, has recovered fully from a spate of injuries that have ravaged him since he helped England win the 2003 World Cup.

Wilkinson has tried to play down the significance of his first international appearance for 20 months.

But Giteau said: "Every time Jonny has played for England, he's inspired the players around him.

"He has proved time and time again that he's a big-game player. If you're ill-disciplined, he's capable of kicking them from anywhere."

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans added: "I think the most critical element that has happened is the introduction of Jonny, because that has brought a lot more certainty around the English game."

Australia play a warm-up match against Gloucester tonight while England team manager Martin Johnson will be finalising his line-up for Saturday.