The England captain Martin Johnson yesterday refused to join the war of words with Australia started by his coach Clive Woodward, preferring to talk up the Wallabies before Saturday's international at Twickenham.
"They are one of the top two sides in the world," said Johnson, when asked if Australia were on their way down after losing to Ireland in Dublin last week having surrendered their Tri-Nations crown earlier in the year.
"The core of the side was part of the successful 1999 World Cup squad, they defeated the Lions last year and went on to win the Tri-Nations, [and were] unfortunate to lose that title in the summer. Just because they lost to Ireland in terrible conditions does not mean they are finished. They still have a knack of winning close games."
Johnson has not played Australia since the third Test on the Lions tour 16 months ago and he admitted that what should have been one of his greatest moments last week, leading England to victory over the All Blacks, did not prompt much in the way of celebration.
"We have to improve on that performance," he said. "My attitude after the game was that rather than celebrating we had to face up to the fact that there was a lot we had to work on. We turned over too much ball, gave away penalties at a crucial time in the game and struggled to get our lineout going.
"What took the edge off our victory over the All Blacks was the fact we were 17 points ahead at one stage in the second half and ended up hanging on for victory at home.
"Australia are the most organised side around in defence and attack. They are patient when they have the ball, building up phases to as many as 20 if they have to, and you need turnovers to stop them getting through."
In a month which sees England playing New Zealand, Australia and South Africa in consecutive weeks, Johnson admitted that he missed the old tours which took in matches against provincial and club sides.
England yesterday had their last major training session before Saturday's international. Three players, the centre Will Greenwood and the props Trevor Woodman and Phil Vickery, sat it out but they will all be fit to face the Wallabies. Greenwood has not trained all week after suffering a dead leg against the All Blacks.
The England outside-half Jonny Wilkinson achieved an early victory over Australia last night when he was named the International Rugby Players' Association Zurich international player of the year ahead of his Wallaby opposite number Stephen Larkham. The Ireland centre Brian O'Driscoll, the New Zealand No 8 Scott Robertson and the France scrum-half Fabien Galthié made up the five-man shortlist. "This is the ultimate rugby accolade for me," said Wilkinson.
New Zealand were voted team of the year in the week that they had been installed as the favourites to win next year's World Cup.
· The former England and Northampton captain Ron Jacobs has died, aged 74. Jacobs, who became president of the Rugby Football Union in 1983, won 29 caps for his country between 1956 and 1964 and played in England's first post-war grand slam-winning side. A minute's silence will be observed in his honour before England meet Australia at Twickenham on Saturday.
