Toiling England looks for confidence boost

MELBOURNE - Rugby World Cup holders England go into Saturday's second test against Australia in Melbourne eager to restore damaged pride after their 34-3 pummelling at the hands of the Wallabies last weekend.

As Australia prosper under the impetus of John Connolly's appointment as coach, England continue to labour in their pursuit of the forward cohesion and ruthless points-scoring that marked their World Cup triumph three years ago.

"The scoreline from Saturday was difficult to swallow but we can't reflect too much on that game. Just learn from it and move on," said skipper Pat Sanderson.

"Any successful team needs honesty and we have been with ourselves this week. As an Englishman it hurts to lose but we have a chance to put that right on Saturday," said the Worcester flanker.

Coach Andy Robinson has made six changes from the team humbled in Sydney with a new-look second row in Chris Jones and Ben Kay, and George Chuter making his bow as hooker in an all-Leicester front row.

Joe Worsley replaces Magnus Lund in the back row with Jamie Noon in at centre and Andy Goode coming in for Olly Barkley at standoff.

The biggest area of concern for the English was their inability to convert strong positions into points, but attack coach Brian Ashton remained unfazed.

"Honestly I don't lose any sleep at night at all over thinking that we won't be able to challenge any defence in the world.

"We won't lose sight of the fact that we did create opportunities, we just have to finish them off."

The night promises to be a memorable one for Australia captain George Gregan, albeit one that starts from the bench.

Connolly's decision to try out Queensland scrumhalf Sam Cordingley as starter at number nine means Gregan is sure to come on as a replacement and surpass England prop Jason Leonard's world record mark of 119 caps.

"I'd spoken to George right through the Super 14 and it was always going to be during these three games that one of the other halfbacks was going to get an opportunity," Connolly said.

Stirling Mortlock will become the 73rd Wallaby skipper when he leads the side out at the Telstra Dome with Waratahs hooker Adam Freier making his first start in place of Tai McIsaac and Mark Chisolm replacing the injured Daniel Heenan at blindside flanker.

Australia: 15-Chris Latham, 14-Mark Gerrard, 13-Stirling Mortlock (captain), 12-Mat Rogers, 11-Lote Tuqiri; 10-Stephen Larkham, 9-Sam Cordingley; 8-Rocky Elsom, 7-George Smith, 6-Mark Chisholm, 5-Dan Vickerman, 4-Nathan Sharpe, 3-Rodney Blake, 2-Adam Freier, 1-Greg Holmes.

Replacements: Jeremy Paul, Al Baxter, Wycliff Palu, Phil Waugh, George Gregan, Clyde Rathbone, Cameron Shepherd.

England: 15-Iain Balshaw, 14-Tom Varndell, 13-Jamie Noon, 12-Mike Catt, 11-Mathew Tait; 10-Andy Goode, 9-Peter Richards; 8-Pat Sanderson (captain), 7-Lewis Moody, 6-Joe Worsley, 5-Ben Kay, 4-Chris Jones, 3-Julian White, 2-George Chuter, 1-Graham Rowntree.

Replacements: Lee Mears, Tim Payne, Louis Deacon, Magnus Lund, Nick Walshe, Olly Barkley, Stuart Abbott.

- REUTERS