Australia's coach Eddie Jones last night warned England not to attach too much significance to the international at Twickenham on Saturday week, with little more than 12 months to go before the 2003 World Cup final in Sydney.
Australia arrived at their Dublin base to prepare for Saturday's international against Ireland at Lansdowne Road battered and bruised after their attritional 17-6 victory over Argentina in Buenos Aires on Saturday evening. The hooker Jeremy Paul will not play against the Irish because of a hamstring strain, the full-back Mat Rogers is highly doubtful after damaging his ribs and the centre Matt Burke is nursing a dead leg.
"We will be using the Tests against Ireland and England to look at tactical options as well as players," said Jones. "It goes without saying that we are out to win both games, but there is a world of difference between playing England at Twickenham in November and facing them on a hard ground in warm conditions in Australia.
"What I am looking for is more sympathetic refereeing. There were 35 penalties awarded in our match against Argentina and that wrecked any chance of an open game. It is a big year for referees because they are jockeying for World Cup places, but given that 65% of penalties are awarded in the tackle area I hope they allow more of an advantage to sides carrying the ball and come down hard on tacklers who fail to roll away."
Jones acknowledges that England will be a major force in the World Cup and believes they have developed considerably in the past four years under their head coach Clive Woodward.
"They have been one of the most incisive sides in the world in the last 24 months," said Jones. "They have developed a consistent attacking style under Woodward and they have also developed their defensive system. They are producing some very good mobile forwards and their tight five is second to none in terms of athleticism.
"With their quick backs, where players like Jason Robinson are dangerous one-to-one, they offer a threat from all over the pitch and they have a world-class goalkicker in Jonny Wilkinson."
Australia remain as defensively sound as they were in 1999 when they conceded only one try on their way to winning the World Cup but Jones said they would develop tactically over the next 12 months. "I have no intention of saying what we will be trying to do but flexibility will be a keyword."
The Six Nations committee hopes to announce a new sponsor by the beginning of next month. This follows the decision of Lloyds TSB, which will today announce a £400,000-a-year link-up with Welsh club rugby, to withdraw its backing at the end of last season.
· France's Tony Marsh will miss their Tests against South Africa and New Zealand after being ruled out for at least three weeks by a groin injury. The New Zealand-born centre will be replaced by Toulouse's Xavier Garbajosa. Newcastle's hooker Steve Brotherstone has withdrawn from the Scotland squad to face Romania after injuring a knee in the defeat by London Irish on Sunday, and will be replaced in the squad by Steve Scott.
