Wallabies coach Dave Rennie is embracing one of the oldest and fiercest rivalries as England start talking up another whitewash.
Just another chapter in the Australia-English sporting rivalry.
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It dates back to the earliest days of Wallaby tours as an Australian side made the trip overseas for the first time in 1908-09.
It’s here where the ‘Wallabies’ moniker was born, unhappy with certain English media labelling them as the ‘Rabbits.’
In front of 18,000 spectators, England got off to a strong start via Edgar Mobbs, however, the Australians would pull off the 9-3 victory after a double to Charles Russell.
Much has changed since then but the rivalry remains strong as ever.
Heading into July’s series, New Zealand-born Rennie got a first-hand experience of what it means when they went down 32-15 to England at Twickenham last year.
With the series returning to Australian soil, the Wallabies coach understands the importance of getting victory with the World Cup just 18 months away.
“I know any sport in the country is massive with those initial ties to the motherland,” Rennie told Rugby.com.au
“They’re always a nation Australia likes to beat in any sport so we’re well aware of the quality of the side ahead of us and excited about the challenge.”
The English come to Australia riding a wave of momentum after a string of consecutive victories over the Wallabies.
This includes a 3-0 whitewash on their last visit in 2016, gaining their own revenge after Bernard Foley and a Michael Chieka-coached Wallabies side eliminated them from a home World Cup in 2015.
“For me definitely it was the dominant sporting rivalry I grew up with,” England flyhalf Owen Farrell, who scored 66 points in the series, said last November.
“I always loved it when the Great Britain-Australia games came around as a kid, and a lot were played in and around Wigan when I was growing up and I got to a fair few of them.
“It’s always been a massive test match, always one you look forward to, always one that you love to be a part of.”
There are few that remain from either side, however, the next generation of stars are eager to follow in Farrell’s footsteps.
“It's a great opportunity for us to go out there and hopefully beat them 3-0 again like the boys did in 2016. It's a massive challenge," scrum-half Harry Randall said.
"We've had few chats around 2016, what it's like to go to Australia and about some of the boys' experiences out there. The 2016 tour was very successful.
"Some of those boys relayed back what it took to be successful out there and what it'll take again. It's good to have some of that experience in and around the squad.
"Australia are a newish squad on the rise. What better way to challenge ourselves than against an up-and-coming Australia team? We'll really look forward to that and embrace it.”
Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper has been at the forefront of several Australia-England classics, a team which he has enjoyed the least success against.
With the team on the rise, he remains confident this can flip the script and perfectly set up the rest of their stacked calendar.
“It doesn’t seem that long ago since 2016 when they came out here last but a lot’s happened since then,” Hooper said.
“It’s a great series to have, 18 months out from the World Cup so we’re really pleased with getting the opportunity to play these guys.
“England are very good at the moment, very good team and they have been for a long time.
“Getting three wins against any team would be important, so against these guys, who are really quality at the moment, how that sets up your year – it’s a nice place to be.”
