HOW AUSTRALIA’S WORLD CUP CLASH WITH ENGLAND AT TWICKENHAM SHAPES
HEAD TO HEAD:
Games played: 43
Australia: 24 wins
England: 18 wins
Drawn: 1
World Cup record:
Australia: 35 wins, 8 losses
England: 30 wins, 12 losses
Best World Cup finish:
Australia: Champions (1991, 1999)
England: Champions (2003)
World ranking:
Australia: 3
England: 6
Recent clashes between the two nations:
2014: England win 26-17 at Twickenham
2013: England win 20-13 at Twickenham
2012: Australia win 20-14 at Twickenham
Recent form:
Australia: 65-3 win over Uruguay; 28-13 win over Fiji; 47-10 win over the USA;
England: 28-3 loss to Wales; 35-11 win over Fiji; 21-13 win over Ireland
Key players:
Australia: David Pocock has stamped himself as the Wallabies’ most important player. For his work over the ball alone, Pocock is world-class and forced five turnovers against Fiji. But Pocock has developed into a capable ball-runner, as part of his transition to the No.8 role, and also finished with a brace of tries in his man-of-the-match performance.
England: Joe Marler. Depending on who you listen to, the only way England will win this clash will be if their scrum dominates – and for that to be the case, Marler will be pivotal. The loosehead prop has been accused of driving in illegally from the side, but he’s one of the best in the business at bending the rules.
Teams:-
Australia: Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani, Matt Giteau, Rob Horne, Bernard Foley, Will Genia, David Pocock, Michael Hooper, Scott Fardy, Rob Simmons, Kane Douglas, Sekope Kepu, Stephen Moore (capt), Scott Sio. Res: Tatafu Polota-Nau, James Slipper, Greg Holmes, Dean Mumm, Ben McCalman, Nick Phipps, Matt Toomua, Kurtley Beale.
England: Mike Brown, Anthony Watson, Jonathan Joseph, Brad Barritt, Jonny May, Owen Farrell, Ben Youngs, Ben Morgan, Chris Robshaw (capt), Tom Wood; Geoff Parling, Joe Launchbury, Dan Cole, Tom Youngs, Joe Marler. Res: Rob Webber, Mako Vunipola, Kieran Brookes, George Kruis, Nick Easter, Richard Wigglesworth, George Ford, Sam Burgess.
