Australia rugby icon David Campese has blasted England coach Steve Borthwick for an ‘absolutely ridiculous’ decision following last week’s nail-biting Autumn Nations Series opener against New Zealand.
England led heading into the final five minutes at Twickenham before Mark Tele’a broke Red Roses’ hearts with a 76th-minute try.
George Ford threatened shortly after with a last-gasp drop goal, but the 31-year-old’s effort drifted agonisingly wide of the upright, condemning England to a disappointing defeat.
However, despite pushing the world No.3 all the way, Campese believes coach Borthwick made one fatal error during the loss against the All Blacks.
Speaking to Planet Rugby ahead of today’s meeting with Australia, the ex-Wallabies ace said: “Hearing Borthwick’s comments about his replacement strategy on Saturday last, he said something along the lines of ‘When you have the talent of Ford and co why wouldn’t you put them on?’
“Now, I couldn’t disagree more with this simply because it smacks of preplanning and suggests that the strategy is not based on live data and what’s happening in front of the coaches’ eyes.”
He added: “Taking Marcus Smith and Ben Spencer off when they had the game under control against the All Blacks was absolutely ridiculous.
“What was there to gain with the new men? Was it higher or lower risk to continue with the incumbents? I think we all know the answer to that.”
“What was there to gain with the new men? Was it higher or lower risk to continue with the incumbents? I think we all know the answer to that.”
‘The 2003 World Cup winners have an immediate chance to put things right when they host Australia at Twickenham – a match Campese already thinks England have the upper hand in.
Bemoaning the lack of minutes in the Australian’s legs, the 101-cap star claimed: “We’re in a scenario where England have an advantage over Australia based upon the extra match against New Zealand and the momentum that they gained in that Test, despite the result.
“The second Bledisloe Test is the last time the Wallabies played, some two months ago, and whilst there were signs of improvement, they still are nowhere near the level of defensive intensity and forward power that England have already shown and I think it’ll be a really hard day on the gain-line and at the breakdown for the Australians.
“Two months is a long time in Test rugby terms – especially when you’re playing in different climatic conditions against a group of players that you don’t come across often, certainly at domestic level, and I feel that the close defeat England endured will really galvanise their resolve.”
The action gets underway in south-west London at 3:10pm.
