Preview: Australia v Scotland
The Wallabies will be seeking a third successive superb performance at hosts England's headquarters, where they have shown their armoury to two different sides.
"It's a match that's going to be tough and painful, physical and difficult," coach Michael Cheika.Cheika, who nevertheless has a side packed with experience including two new Test centurions in centre Matt Giteau and captain Stephen Moore, said.
A fortnight ago, orchestrated by flyhalf Bernard Foley, Australia's rapier offense cut the English to ribbons in a 33-13 victory. A week later they produced a remarkable backs-to-the wall defensive display, to repel a Welsh onslaught when two men down for around 10 minutes, and ran out 15-6 winners.
Now the Wallabies, who will be without two influential players in fullback Israel Folau and No.8 David Pocock, must confront a Scotland side that is improving fast under Kiwi coach Vern Cotter.
"There's going to be a lot of moments when we are going to be under pressure and that character is what's required at that time to help you. Our goal is to improve on our performance against Wales. There's a lot of areas where we can,"he added.
Cheika said the Scots would represent the toughest challenge yet.
"One hundred percent yes, this will be the most difficult game we play and that's not disrespecting our other opponents at all because every match has been tough but this will be the toughest. There's going to be a lot of pain, it's going to be physical and I want the players to enjoy that as well because that's when it's worth it," he stated.
For the first time in three games Cheika's side have been cast in the role of solid favourites but the son of Lebanese immigrants is dismissive of that.
"We don't think we are complacent. Nobody was saying that about us [being favourites] many months ago and things aren't any different now. We're acutely aware that this is really important for our own journey as a team. I've seen a lot of the Scottish players saying they can win and they can, they can.
"It's the reality of sport and what we need to make sure is that our mindset is really clear on what we're prepared to do to get that victory," Cheika said.
Wing Adam Ashley-Cooper, who will become the third most capped Wallaby on Sunday with 112 caps, knows not to take the Scots for granted – as he has finished on the losing side on two occasions.
Greig Laidlaw, now the Scotland captain, kicked all their points in a 12-6 win in appalling weather conditions in Newcastle, Australia, in 2012 and a missed Giteau conversion proved the difference in a 8-9 defeat at Murrayfield in 2009 – their first loss to the Scots since 1982.
The Scots have been weakened through hooker Ross Ford and lock Jonny Gray being banned for three weeks, which they have appealed but will only be heard on Saturday.
However – in the halfback partnership of Laidlaw and Finn Russell, the back row of Kiwi duo John Hardie and Blair Cowan and Zimbabwean-born David Denton as well as renowned finisher Tommy Seymour – the Scots possess weapons to hurt the Wallabies.
"Australia had the performance of the tournament against England, but we have a game plan that we think will keep us in the game. We're not going there just to make up the numbers," said Laidlaw.
Players to watch:
For Australia: Stephen Moore and Matt Giteau will become the newest Wallabies centurions while Kurtley Beale will have big shoes to fill with the absence of Israel Folau. Speaking of filling big shoes, Ben McCalman will have a mammoth task to pick up where David Pocock left off. All eyes could be on flyhalf Bernard Foley to see if he can display another masterclass performance.
For Scotland: Greig Laidlaw will have to lead his team with plenty of passion and provide Finn Russell with quality service to get the ball to the likes of Tommy Seymour and Stuart Hogg to fire on all cylinders. Up front, Dave Denton will be key in the rucks and looking to win turnover ball while South African-born prop Willem Nel will provide plenty of grunt at scrum time.
Head to head: Scott Sio will look to impose himself at scrum time against Willem Nel while there will be a massive battle to compete in the rucks between Dave Denton and Ben McCalman. The experienced scrumhalves of Greig Laidlaw and Will Genia will push each other, and the referee, close to breaking point.
Recent results:
2013: Australia won 21-15, Edinburgh
2012: Scotland won 6-9, Newcastle
2009: Scotland won 8-9, Edinburgh
2006: Australia won 44-15, Edinburgh
2004: Australia won 31-17, Glasgow
2004: Australia won 31-14, Edinburgh
2004: Australia won 34-13, Sydney
2004: Australia won 35-15, Melbourne
2003: Australia won 33-16, Brisbane (WC quarter-final)
2000: Australia won 30-9, Edinburgh
Prediction: Scotland will have plenty of heart and determination and should be up for the challenge. However, Australia has too much firepower and game breakers, so they should walk away with a comfortable victory by more-or-less 18 points.
Teams:
Australia: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Will Genia, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Kane Douglas, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Stephen Moore (captain), 1 Scott Sio.
Replacements: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 James Slipper, 18 Greg Holmes, 19 Dean Mumm, 20 Sean McMahon, 21 Nick Phipps, 22 Matt Toomua, 23 Quade Cooper.
Scotland: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Mark Bennett, 12 Pete Horne, 11 Tommy Seymour, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Greig Laidlaw (captain), 8 Dave Denton, 7 John Hardie, 6 Blair Cowan, 5 Richie Gray, 4 Tim Swinson, 3 Willem Nel, 2 Fraser Brown, 1 Alasdair Dickinson.
Replacements: 16 Kevin Bryce, 17 Gordon Reid, 18 Jon Welsh, 19 Alasdair Strokosch, 20 Josh Strauss, 21 Henry Pyrgos, 22 Richie Vernon, 23 Sean Lamont.
Date: Sunday, October 18
Venue: Twickenham, England
Kick-off: 16.00 (15.00 GMT; 02.00 Monday, October 19 AEDT)
Expected weather: Cloudy, with a high of a 12
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Glen Jackson (New Zealand), Pascal Gauzère (France)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
