From Alex Lowe, PA Sport, Brisbane
Australia coach Eddie Jones has accused Sir Clive Woodward of getting his excuses in early by declaring the Wallabies have never had a better chance to beat England than in Saturday's Brisbane Test.
Woodward claimed yesterday that with England firmly ensconced in a rebuilding phase and suffering a host of injuries, Jones stands his best chance in three years of getting one over on the old enemy.
Jones has lost four times to England since taking over the Wallabies in 2001, including last year's heartbreaking 20-17 extra-time defeat in the World Cup final, and still takes exception to the hug he received from a victorious Woodward at Twickenham in 2002.
But Jones feels the boot might now be on the other foot as England limp into Saturday's Test after two thumping defeats to New Zealand.
Australia have retained 12 of their starting side from the World Cup final for Saturday's Test in Brisbane while England are expected to have a maximum of six, depending on injuries.
"I think Clive is just trying to take a bit of pressure off himself," said Jones.
"He is that sort of bloke that when he's winning, he's on top of the world, he's your best mate, and when he's losing, he's always looking for excuses.
"Look down the sheet, they are three wins from seven games this year.
"We played England last year for 100 minutes (in the World Cup final) and got beaten in the 100th minute, so we had a reasonable chance to win that game, I would have thought.
"We had two reasonable hit-outs against Scotland and played marginally better in the second game, which means we are moving in the right direction and we are going to play against the best England side they can put on the field.
"England are physically a much bigger side than Scotland, they like that contest area but we think we are equipped enough to win that."
England versus Australia fixtures are now routinely accompanied by pre-match hype - some pantomime, some not - and Jones today dismissed the suggestion his players are out for World Cup final revenge.
After three years in which the Australian trophy cabinet has been shorn of the Bledisloe Cup, Tri-Nations trophy and World Cup, Jones is anxious to give it some sparkle.
"We have moved on from the World Cup," he said, insisting his players are not inspired by the hurt of watching Jonny Wilkinson's drop-goal sail between the posts.
"We are playing for the Cook Cup on Saturday and that is important. We would like to get some silverware in our empty trophy cabinet. It's not a bad trophy that Cook Cup."
England have won four consecutive Cook Cup matches, dating back to 2000, the last of which signalled Woodward's side at the peak of their powers.
A stunning, attacking performance in Melbourne this time last year secured England their first ever victory on Australian soil and Jones has often spoken in admiration of the opening 40 minutes of their 25-14 victory.
And after failing to register a try in the two Tests against New Zealand, Jones expects England might revert back to the Melbourne gameplan, which mixed forward dominance with open, exciting rugby.
"I thought the first 40 minutes in that game last June was close to the best rugby we saw last year. They were physical, they also spread the ball, got around us by passing, through us by running and had a judicious kicking game," said Jones.
"It was pretty complete rugby. They changed their game in the World Cup and played very narrow. Although they stand wide, they still play narrow.
"But we wouldn't be surprised if they came out and played with a little bit of width.
"They have still got some pretty good runners - Ben Cohen, Josh Lewsey, Tom Voyce - they are all very sharp on their feet.
"We anticipate England will put forward their best performance of the tour on Saturday."
Jones received some positive injury news this morning after reserve hooker Jeremy Paul had a "pretty positive" result from an MRI scan on his strained knee ligaments.
Paul will undergo a fitness test on Saturday, with NSW Waratahs hooker Adam Freier arriving in Brisbane today as cover.
"We believe he will be OK," said Jones, who was ruing the loss of winger Mark Gerrard from the bench after he suffered a torn hamstring in training.
"We all feel sorry for Gerrard, he is such a good prospect and he was training brilliantly. We will bring 1/8scrum-half3/8 Matt Henjak onto the bench. It is a disruption."
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