In any sport, at any time, at any venue, Australia versus England doesn’t need hyperbole to be compelling. The nations share an unwritten, unspoken enmity that creates its own drama, and when the teams run out at Twickenham on Saturday it all goes on the line for two proud fanbases desperate for bragging rights.
But with both sides holding a four-five win-loss record this year, they meet as “nearly men” of world rugby. Each has claimed big scalps. England beat Ireland in March, Australia defeated Argentina in September. Yet both sides choked against the All Blacks and lost winnable Tests by a kick, England going down 24-22 last week and Australia falling short, 31-28, in the first Bledisloe Test.
