England must show signs of progress

INTERNATIONAL/England v Australia:IT WAS Alan Jones, the coach of Australia's 1984 grand slam winners, who summed up Test rugby better than most. "One day you're a rooster," Jones announced, "the next you're a feather-duster."

Nothing much has changed in the intervening 25 years and neither Martin Johnson nor Robbie Deans will be counting any chickens before a delicately balanced contest upon which reputations could easily tilt.

England, regardless of injuries, have reached a decisive moment in Johnson’s tenure. Win with a bit of swagger and they can legitimately claim to be heading back towards the sunlit uplands.

Lose to an Australia team with one win in their last seven internationals, albeit against tough opposition, and the winter could be a lengthy one. Johnson insists he is confident his players will deliver, but he cannot be entirely sure.

In a team supposedly in disarray, the Wallaby pack is a long way from the worst, with a backrow of considerable prowess and a frontrow that improves by the week.

Toss in the line-breaking genius of Matt Giteau and the promise of Will Genia and it could be a while before England probe the Wallabies’ supposedly soft midfield at their leisure. Australia have led New Zealand at half-time in four of their last five meetings and lost every time. One of these days they will complete the job.

It is no use England relying entirely on Jonny Wilkinson, either. History would suggest the Toulon outhalf will not be an anonymous figure, but Johnson is not alone in wanting to see other team members make an equal impact.

“I’m 27 years old and I can’t be looking to other people for the rest of my life,” said Dan Hipkiss, the Leicester centre who has overcome a nasty virus to form a new centre combination with Shane Geraghty.

There is pressure, in other words, on David Wilson at tighthead, Matt Banahan on the left wing and Geraghty on Wilkinson’s shoulder to make the most of their first Twickenham starts.

All three could be around for a long time if they make a decent fist of it, although quite how many tattoos the heavily decorated Banahan will have by the time he retires is a sobering thought.

Taking into account the praying hands and crucifix on Digby Ioane’s neck and the Japanese symbols on Courtney Lawes’s arm, this will rank among the most ink-stained internationals in the stadium’s 100-year history.

Johnson, naturally, is more concerned with the black-and-white issue of the final score. He is happy with the selection of Ugo Monye at fullback – “We wouldn’t have put him there if we didn’t think he could handle it” – and has no time for anyone trying to draw a distinction between a good English performance and a home win.

“One point is always enough, isn’t it?” he asked rhetorically. “Believe me, if you go out fretting about the result and not fretting about what you need to do to achieve it, you’re in trouble.”

By that yardstick, there can be no middle ground. If England lose despite securing the quick ball their supporters crave and running in multiple tries, it will still represent a backward step as far as the management is concerned. Australia may well sense a team as desperate as themselves and look to prey on such insecurities.

“I think they’re building a very dangerous young team,” said Johnson.

Meanwhile, Stirling Mortlock has been ruled out of Australia’s entire tour.

The former Wallabies captain was due to play against Ireland, Scotland and Wales but aggravated a persistent calf injury in training yesterday.