Rugby World Cup: Wallabies gear up for England clash

Everything you need to know about Australia's blockbuster World Cup Pool A clash with England.

Australian fans at the Rugby World Cup

epa04952087 Australia fans arrive to watch their team play Uruguay in the Rugby World Cup 2015 pool A match at Villa Park in Birmingham, Britain, 27 September 2015. EPA/DAVID JONES EDITORIAL USE ONLY/ NO COMMERCIAL SALES / NOT USED IN ASSOCATION WITH ANY COMMERCUIAL ENTITY Source: AAP

How Australia's World Cup clash with England at Twickenham shapes up:

Head to head
Games played: 43

Australia: 24 wins

England: 18 wins

Drawn: 1

World Cup record:
Australia: 35 wins, 8 losses

England: 30 wins, 12 losses

Best World Cup finish:
Australia: Champions (1991, 1999)

England: Champions (2003)

World ranking:
Australia: 3

England: 6

Recent clashes between the two nations:
2014: England win 26-17 at Twickenham

2013: England win 20-13 at Twickenham

2012: Australia win 20-14 at Twickenham

Recent form:
Australia: 65-3 win over Uruguay; 28-13 win over Fiji; 47-10 win over the USA;

England: 28-3 loss to Wales; 35-11 win over Fiji; 21-13 win over Ireland

Key players:
Australia: David Pocock has stamped himself as the Wallabies' most important player. For his work over the ball alone, Pocock is world-class and forced five turnovers against Fiji. But Pocock has developed into a capable ball-runner, as part of his transition to the No.8 role, and also finished with a brace of tries in his man-of-the-match performance.

England: Joe Marler. Depending on who you listen to, the only way England will win this clash will be if their scrum dominates - and for that to be the case, Marler will be pivotal. The loosehead prop has been accused of driving in illegally from the side, but he's one of the best in the business at bending the rules.

Teams:
Australia: Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani, Matt Giteau, Rob Horne, Bernard Foley, Will Genia, David Pocock, Michael Hooper, Scott Fardy, Rob Simmons, Kane Douglas, Sekope Kepu, Stephen Moore (capt), Scott Sio. Res: Tatafu Polota-Nau, James Slipper, Greg Holmes, Dean Mumm, Ben McCalman, Nick Phipps, Matt Toomua, Kurtley Beale.

England: Mike Brown, Anthony Watson, Jonathan Joseph, Brad Barritt, Jonny May, Owen Farrell, Ben Youngs, Ben Morgan, Chris Robshaw (capt), Tom Wood; Geoff Parling, Joe Launchbury, Dan Cole, Tom Youngs, Joe Marler. Res: Rob Webber, Mako Vunipola, Kieran Brookes, George Kruis, Nick Easter, Richard Wigglesworth, George Ford, Sam Burgess.

Watch the match on GEM from 6am AEDT


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Source: AAP



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