Wallabies not worried by Twickenham

Australia coach Robbie Deans tonight insisted Twickenham 'holds no baggage' for the Wallabies despite their poor recent record at rugby HQ.

Australia have lost on four of their last five visits to Twickenham and the Wallabies were also beaten in their last encounter with England, in the 2007 World Cup quarter-final.

Deans has named a side featuring only six players who featured in that 12-10 defeat in Marseille last October, with only three survivors from a pack left battered and bruised by England's forwards.

The last time Australia were at Twickenham, in 2005, the match ended in uncontested scrums after England's powerful loose-head prop Andrew Sheridan first saw off Al Baxter and then Matt Dunning.

Baxter will go up against Sheridan once again after Deans named the same Australia team that lost 19-14 to New Zealand in Hong Kong two weekends ago, except for Hugh McMeniman replacing Dean Mumm at blindside flanker.

Matt Giteau returns to start at fly-half with Stirling Mortlock and Ryan Cross, forging a powerful midfield unit.

Deans said: There's great history in the sporting rivalry between Australia and England and Twickenham is a great stadium and a special ground to play on. We're looking forward to what we anticipate will be a great occasion.

'This is a new group carving out its own way. We won't be distracted by what has gone before. Many of our players have never experienced playing at Twickenham before so it holds no baggage for them.

'The history has no real relevance for what is to come aside, perhaps, from highlighting the scale of the opportunity that is ahead of us.'

England's scrum coach Graham Rowntree has been impressed by Australia hooker Stephen Moore and believes the much-maligned Wallabies pack has improved since the World Cup.

He said today: 'What a fantastic day it was in Marseille but there is no point harping back to it.

'They have improved significantly, none more so than Stephen Moore. He is a hell of a player. He is abrasive in the tight and he is abrasive in the loose.

'They are a smart team in all facets of the game. They won't let anybody dominate them. I have a lot of respect for them and think they have improved a lot since the last time we played them.'

Deans has included rookie fly-half Quade Cooper among the replacements after the 20-year-old came off the bench to seal the Wallabies' victory over Italy with a late try.

Australia team to play England at Twickenham on Saturday, November 15, kick-off 2.30pm: A Ashley-Cooper, P Hynes, R Cross, S Mortlock, D Mitchell; M Giteau, L Burgess; B Robinson, S Moore, A Baxter, M Chisholm, N Sharpe, H McMeniman, G Smith, R Brown.

Replacements: T Polota-Nau, M Dunning, D Mumm, W Palu, S Cordingley, Q Cooper, D Ioane