AAP | November 13, 2008

Stirling Mortlock: A fresh approach

A lot of history has been spoken about in the build-up to Saturday's England-Australia clash at Twickenham, but Stirling Mortlock went to considerable lengths to point out that Saturday is more of a new beginning for both teams.

England's backs are full of Test novices, and there's a sprinkling of new faces across both packs, as well as Australia's backs. Both sides have new coaches since the last clash between the two as well, and both sides are playing different brands of rugby.

"There's a lot of fresh faces in this England team that we haven't seen too much of. That adds to the spice of this game," Mortlock said to AAP.

"They are a fresh combination with a fresh approach. That's going to make it a real interesting game of rugby on the weekend."

There is speculation that the game could be in marked contrast to last year's Rugby World Cup quarter-final, which was tense, but rarely exciting. This time, neither side has anything to lose.

"Both sides will feel each other out, but both sides will be bold at some point, given that neither will want to walk off the ground without a result," said Australia coach Robbie Deans.

"So there'll be a bit of pushing and pulling, a bit of feeling out each other because there's a fair amount of uncertainty and of unknown in terms of how each side will approach the game.

"There will be some strategies that we haven't seen, in terms of trying to find avenues to succeed.

"And that itself, given that you've got two (lots of) coaching staff that are pretty fresh. And I think you'll see that both sides are prepared to take the shackles off in order to get what they seek.

"So there's a lot of unknowns in there. But you won't see a frivolous game. You'll see a game that's very likely to have everything."

The smattering of new faces will also make researching the opposition harder, according to Deans, but that also means he will up the focus on having his team play their own game.

"I don't know a lot of background in terms of England," Deans admitted.

"But that means we will prioritise what we do and put an emphasis on that and concentrate on that, and possibly that's an advantage.

"Sometimes you can get distracted from what you believe will be coming the other way. Because of course both sides are second guessing each other.

"So perhaps without having the second guessing will bring a bit more clarity."

"It's a great opportunity for this group to get a rugby experience. That will be rewarding in itself.

"Quite apart from what we'll take out of it and take forward, it's one of the great destinations.

"And it will be a test because England at Twickenham is one of the ultimate rugby experiences and something this group is really excited about.

"For a lot of them, it will be their first instance in that cauldron. They can't wait." Ê