Wallabies coach Ewan McKenzie believes he and his staff’s European connections could give Australia the inside edge over England in Saturday’s rugby Test at Twickenham.
McKenzie feels Australia are well placed to make a winning start to their five-match European tour against an England side he says will be under plenty of pressure and scrutiny.
The core of England’s squad will play together for the first time in more than seven months, with their British Lions players missing June’s matches against Argentina.
But McKenzie insists Australia won’t be caught be surprise, with his newly assembled coaching team having strong ties with Europe and closely following the progress of England’s players.
McKenzie, attack coach Jim McKay, defence coach Nick Scrivener and set piece coach Andrew Blades have all worked in Europe.
“We’ve got probably more knowledge than you think,” McKenzie said in London on Monday.
“… We all track it and, because of our previous relationships, we tend to follow what’s going on.
“We might spend more time watching what’s going on over here than vice versa.”
Australia have managed just three wins from 10 Tests in 2013 but they have shown encouraging signs recently, including in this month’s 41-33 third Bledisloe Test loss to the All Blacks in New Zealand.
England represent the toughest assignment on a tour that also features games against Italy, Ireland, Scotland and Wales but McKenzie senses Australia’s opening opponents might be vulnerable.
“We’re quite pleased to get them first up because everyone’s going to be watching them,” he said.
“Since that Wales game (in March), everybody will be wanting to see what’s happened in the meantime so it’s not a bad circumstance for us.
“… As much as everyone talks about us, they’re under pressure themselves because they’ll want to get off to a good start.
“They’ve got New Zealand and Argentina coming up so there’s a weight of expectation they’ve got to feel as well.”
McKenzie said it would be difficult to decide on his final team for the match, having arrived in the UK with virtually a fully-fit squad.
Only Tatafu Polota-Nau (hamstring) is unlikely to be considered with winger Joe Tomane (hamstring), blindside flanker Scott Fardy (eye) and Christian Lealiifano (ankle) available to return from injury.
A win against England would set up a genuine chance at a first grand slam in nearly three decades but hooker Stephen Moore said the players couldn’t get ahead of themselves.
“We haven’t looked too far beyond this Saturday. In isolation, it’s a massive game for us,” he said.
