AUSTRALIA coach Robbie Deans believes tomorrow’s Twickenham showdown with England will be the toughest assignment of their tour.
The Wallabies have been installed as odds-on favourites to retain the Cook Cup against a makeshift England side hampered by a chaotic build-up.
The fact Australia are packed full of unfamiliar names themselves underlines the problems facing Martin Johnson’s side in the eyes of bookmakers.
But even with Grand Slam champions Ireland up next, Deans has identified England as the greatest threat to their ambition to topple all four home nations.
The Wallabies coach said: ‘‘Saturday is the toughest game because it’s England at Twickenham – that’s the way it is.
‘‘We’ll have to earn everything we get. We’ve prepared to win the match and that’s what we’re aspiring to do.
‘‘England will expect to win and we have an opportunity to chase that result, but we’re presuming nothing.
‘‘I wasn’t aware that we’re favourites and frankly it doesn’t interest me. There’s no balance to be struck between rebuilding and winning – we want to do well on Saturday.
‘‘Our squad isn’t experienced but we’ve selected the team to do well on the weekend. It’s not as though we’ve left a lot at home.
This is our best crew, England have selected their best crew.’’
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