England captain Steve Borthwick is gearing up for a “huge challenge” when the old enemy Australia roll into Twickenham on Saturday.
Borthwick led his country on home soil for the first time last weekend as England opened their Investec Challenge series with a 39-13 victory over the Pacific Islanders.
But he is convinced England will have to raise their game when they face the Wallabies, who have already beaten New Zealand and South Africa this year and were just pipped to the Tri-Nations title.
“The battles between England and Australia are always hard-fought,” said Borthwick. “This is a huge challenge. It is one that is really exciting.
“The Pacific Islanders was a big contest. They were certainly one of the biggest teams I have played against.
“That was a great start for us but we need to get better. We know Australia are up there with the best teams in the world.
“We know every one of us will have to reach the final percentages of our ability. England have got a lot of strengths.
“An England-Australia game is one that everybody looks forward to. We all know we have got to be at our best.”
England beat the Wallabies in last autumn’s World Cup quarter-final on the back of a ferocious performance at the scrum and the breakdown, but their analysis tells them Australia have improved in both areas since Robbie Deans took charge following the tournament.
“I think it is quite clear Australia have improved immeasurably,” added Borthwick.
“Their pack is strong and they have shown that by winning away in South Africa and beating New Zealand.
“They are a very experienced side together. Their coaching team have had a good amount of time to develop the team. They are tremendously well organised and well drilled.”
England are trying not to reflect on their victory last autumn and the 2005 win at Twickenham, when the Australia pack crumbled under the force of Andrew Sheridan.
But those two victories represent half of England’s Test wins in 19 Tests against SANZAR opponents since the World Cup victory in 2003.
Borthwick urged England to start addressing that woeful record this weekend.
“There are games in the past we would love to have won but I can’t do anything about that,” said Borthwick.
“All I can influence are games in the future, specifically this weekend. We as an England team want to go out and perform as well as we possibly can, better than we did last week.
“Nobody wants England to win more than the blokes wearing the shirts on the field.
“Australia are a quality side but we will give it absolutely everything we can.”
