Wallabies can exploit Red Rose uncertainty says Matt Burke
Burke, a World Cup winner in 1999, reckons Michael Cheika’s side have drawn huge confidence from their recent Rugby Championship win, which, allied to continuing doubts over England’s half-back and midfield selections, has boosted Wallaby chances.
“There’s no doubt Australia can win it, absolutely,” Burke told The Rugby Paper. “If you take away the most recent loss to New Zealand, the mood is very positive and winning the Rugby Championship means they’re building momentum.
“There’s certainly an air of optimism and they’re showing courage on the field which will hold them in good stead. They have got confidence going into a very hard Pool with England and Wales and they’re starting to understand what it takes to win.
“I think we’ll have a pretty good shot at it and the pressure England are under playing at home is enormous – the same as Australia were in 2003. There are huge questions over England’s midfield right now and it’s a big headache for their selectors.
“I was talking to (RFU pro rugby director) Rob Andrew the other day and I mentioned to him tongue in cheek, ‘Imagine if England didn’t go through?’. You have that pressure of being expected to go through and that maybe helps the away teams.”
Recounting his personal experience from 16 years ago, popular ex-Newcastle Falcon Burke explained: “When you’re away from everyone, as we were in 1999, you start to bond closely as a team, work your plays out amongst yourselves and develop the understanding that can take you deep into a tournament as that spirit grows.
“Away from home you sometimes have to play a slightly different type of football as well and it will help Australia having Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell, Kane Douglas and Dean Mumm in the squad – guys who understand those European conditions.
“Cheika knows them from coaching in Ireland and France and sometimes you have to play a tighter, more European type of football. But Australia now have that ability to play in different ways and if they come out of the Pool they’ll be in great shape.”
Despite Burke’s confidence, he harbours misgivings over mercurial fly-half Quade Cooper after his indifferent recent display against the All Blacks in Auckland.
“I was critical of Quade’s performance,” Burke said. “Having been there you know what it takes to beat those guys – and it’s not through flashy play!
“You do it through consistent play, but Quade was throwing 40/60 or 30/70 passes which didn’t go to hand and that throws your confidence.
“There’s no doubt he’s got talent, the question is whether he has the ability to control a game as a classic No.10?
“With Quade you just don’t know and the selection around him and Bernard Foley, along with the halfbacks Will Genia and Nick Phipps, will be very interesting. But the unconventional has worked for Cheika so maybe that’s how he’ll continue to go.”
One man Burke expects to light up the World Cup is full-back Israel Folau, who the former Wallaby No.15 describes as being close to unplayable.
Burke said: “New Zealand kicked to Folau a fair bit the other week and he just diffused everything they threw at him. Teams will try and work him out and put him under pressure, but he seems to be able to come up with something pretty special.
“He’s got great running ability and if you watch the Waratahs, whenever he finds himself in space he creates havoc with his pace and stepping ability.
“In counter-attack he has the ability to beat two, three or four men and then knock over a few forwards as well. He’s a big lad and his movement is what’s capturing everyone’s attention.
“His ability to run, step and keep his balance is quite incredible so he will enjoy his time in the UK, there’s no doubt about it. With the way the Wallabies are trying to play he’ll see a lot of the ball and can be an absolute star at this World Cup.”
Burke, meanwhile, will lace up his boots when he returns to Newcastle on Friday, October 2 to play for a Falcons Legends side against a Southern Hemisphere XV at Kingston Park.
The 42-year-old said: “It’ll be great to get back to Newcastle, which was a big part of my life, and I really enjoyed the four years I had there.
“I saw the development of some great players such as Toby Flood, Jamie Noon, Mathew Tait, Geoff Parling, Lee Dickson, Dave Wilson and Phil Dowson, who all went on to play for England. I have great memories of the place.”
NEALE HARVEY
