England wash hands of 'dirty' claims
Andy Robinson says there were no complaints
England have dismissed Australian claims of underhand tactics in their attempts to stop tearaway flanker George Smith during the world champions' 34-3 first Test defeat.
Wallabies defence coach John Muggleton claimed Smith was targeted at set-pieces, alleging elbowing and tripping from England players.
His comments are likely to raise the temperature for Saturday's Cook Cup clash at Telstra Dome, which England must win to retain the trophy and avoid a fifth successive defeat against all opponents.
"George Smith is one of those blokes, that it is quite obvious if you let him get to the breakdown, it is very hard to beat him," said Muggleton.
"So they (England) obviously had the tactic of not letting him get to the breakdown and therefore securing their first-phase possession.
"It was quite subtle sometimes, but very open at other times, and I would expect the referee would correct it this week.
"George is a key figure in our defensive structure. We had difficulties because he was held back at every scrum and tripped at every lineout.
"England's tactics were to stop him getting there, to keep him out of the play."
New Zealander Steve Walsh, who is no stranger to controversy when it comes England Test matches, takes charge this weekend.
Walsh was reprimanded following an altercation with England fitness coach Dave Reddin during a 2003 World Cup game against Samoa in Melbourne.
England head coach Andy Robinson though, pointed to the Australians making no complaints about events at Telstra Stadium, claiming: "I can't remember that happening.
"The only incident I saw happen in the game was George have a shot at Pat Sanderson. There was an elbow to the head.
"There were no complaints from the Australians after the game, so I was surprised it came up."
Robinson, meanwhile, insists Newcastle prodigy Mathew Tait's international future lies at outside centre – despite switching him to wing duty for the second Test salvage mission.
Tait is among only nine players retained following the 34-3 Sydney drubbing last weekend, with Robinson axing wing Tom Voyce, fly-half Olly Barkley, hooker Lee Mears, locks Louis Deacon and Alex Brown, plus flanker Magnus Lund.
"Mathew Tait's future is as a centre," insisted under-fire Robinson, whose team are facing equalling their worst run of results since losing five games in a row 22 years ago.
"In the position we are in, and the players we had to call from for this game, I think it is better to involve him starting on the wing.
"I don't think he (Voyce) gave us the penetration we needed. I had to weigh up the choice between Voyce or Tom Varndell, and for me, I thought Varndell offered more.
"Yes, he (Varndell) made a couple of errors, but I certainly saw his cutting edge as important for this game.
"As a back line, we didn't have a lot of penetration in the second half, and I think Jamie Noon just gives that better balance for the penetration we are going to need."
The odds are stacked Robinson's men gaining a victory that would see them retain the Cook Cup.
They have lost 12 of their previous Tests against Australia Down Under, and the Wallabies are likely to improve considerably following an often rusty display last Sunday.
