Heat, wind or rain ... we're ready, says Eddie
Eddie Jones today predicted the reigning World Cup champions would triumph against England in Saturday's final in "heat, wind or rain".
The Australian coach said his Wallabies would not suffer the problems France experienced in their rain and windswept semifinal with England and claimed: "We're prepared for those three scenarios. The side with the most skill will win the game and we believe that's us."
Central to Jones's hopes will be the performance of his young pack which shows the only change in the team that accounted for New Zealand in last Saturday's semi-final win. He has drafted in Ali Baxter for the injured Ben Darwin at prop, but does not believe this means England will have an even stronger grip on the forward battle.
"We've got a young pack and they've got no fear, they've got nothing to be frightened about," said Jones. "All they've got to do is go out there and play well and they'll do that. They'll play with a lot of aggression. If we're good enough we'll get on top of them. If we're not good enough we won't."
Baxter is playing in only his seventh Test compared to the England front row of Phil Vickery, Steve Thompson and Trevor Woodman who boast 94 Test appearances between them.
Jones resisted the temptation to bring the more experienced lock David Giffin off the bench for either Justin Harrison or Nathan Sharpe.
Harrison replaced injured vice-captain Giffin in the quarter-final against Scotland and kept his place in the starting side against New Zealand.
"The way England dominate games is through their forwards so we've got to get stuck into them and Justin's at the forefront of that," said Jones.
Only six players remain in the Wallaby side beaten 25-14 by England the last time the two teams met in June.
Australia: M Rogers; W Sailor, S Mortlock, E Flatley, L Tuqiri; S Larkham, G Gregan (cap); B Young, B Cannon, A Baxter, J Harrison, N Sharpe, G Smith, P Waugh, D Lyons. Replacements: J Paul, M Dunning, D Giffin, M Cockbain, C Whitaker, M Giteau, J Roff.
