Thursday 15 November 2012 14:46, UK
Dean Ryan believes that England's youngster have got what it takes to beat an out-of-sorts Australia.
Wallaby threat Australia have made four changes to the team that was thrashed 33-6 by France in Paris with fit-again Digby Ioane taking on Ashton on the wing and Berrick Barnes slotting in at fullback. Australia's much-maligned scrum have also been boosted by the return of prop Ben Alexander and lock Sitaleki Timani and Ryan believes they will be much competitive than people think. "What has surprised me is that Kurtley Beale stays at 10," he said. "He has been a 15 and is one of the best broken-field runners in the game. Whether he can manage a game for everybody else is up for debate. "Berrick Barnes is a game manager and normally plays at 10 but finds himself at 15, so that is the big surprise for me. The positive is that Digby Ioane comes back in; he is their equivalent of Ashton. He can really finish and that will change the dynamic around Beale. Adam Ashley-Cooper moves into 13 which again gives them a different threat too. "The big question is upfront where Australia were steamrolled in Paris. They have bought Alexander back in at tighthead who is their first choice. They have been suffering from injuries and they do not have a huge amount of depth but I think they return of Timani in the second row is another boost - he is a monster and that could change their scrum. "I did think they would have brought Stephen Moores back in as hooker - he has 70 odds caps and that front row would have had a more settled look. This is not a team to write-off, they may not be comfortable or happy at the moment but it has enough finishers and quality out there to hurt you and you are going to have to play well to get a victory. "Robbie Deans does seem to have lost the group a little bit - it is not so much about the theory of the game but they just don't seem energised. So much of their game has been about energy there wonderful shape players who were best at these dummies and the run-around but they seem to have lost that." With a win against Fiji already under their belt, Ryan believes that England could make it two out of two on Saturday and says if they do lose it will be very hard for them to bounce back against South Africa a week on Saturday. "I think England will win over the weekend," added Ryan. "I think England are building and areas like the scrum will give them too much traction and I think we may see England move on in terms of the shape. "A win would allow them a lot of confidence going into the South Africa game. The Springboks are the tipping point because if England lose against Australia and have to go and find a result against South Africa then that is very difficult. Going in off two wins, well I think England could get something against the 'Boks which would give them a free shot against New Zealand who are head and shoulders above everybody else. "If they don't beat Australia then the pressure is back on England and they have to go looking for a result. But I am pretty confident, there is a foundation there and they are playing the weakest of the southern hemisphere teams first up."