Australia warn England the 'fear inside us is dead' as Eddie Jones aims for brutality in defence

Rivalry renewed: Old team-mates Eddie Jones and Michael Cheika go head to head once again this weekend
AFP via Getty Images

Australia coach Michael Cheika says he has no fears about throwing Jordan Petaia in ahead of experienced players like James O’Connor and Adam ­Ashley-Cooper and insists his team are not afraid of England.

19-year-old Petaia - who made his Test debut earlier this month as Australia's youngest World Cup player - has only played on the wing so far for the Wallabies, but will start at outside centre in Saturday's World Cup quarter-final in Oita.

He will become his country's youngest Test centre for 30 years.

Cheika said during his pre-match press call that he trusted the teenager 'infinitely' and claimed Australia have no fear as they seek to end a six-match losing run against England.

“The fear inside us is dead,” he said. “We are not afraid to go there and get it. That means it will be a great game.”

In Pictures | England vs Argentina, Rugby World Cup | 05/11/2019

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Petaia's selection at 13 was a surprise matched by England, who have dropped George Ford - arguably their player of the tournament so far - for the last-eight meeting with the Wallabies and moved Owen Farrell to fly-half while restoring the midfield partnership of Manu Tuilagi and Henry Slade.

Speaking at England’s base in Beppu, Eddie Jones said his team would “defend with brutality" and added that he had made a “horses for courses” selection in his midfield.

"Australia defend a certain way and we believe those three players can also trouble their defence,” Jones said. “And defensively we feel like it’s a pretty strong 10-12-13 combination.

“We know Australia are a high-possession team and that’s how they want to play, so there’s going to be a lot of defending in that area and we think those three guys are well equipped to handle it.

"We’ve worked four years to get here and our players have been absolutely brilliant in terms of their preparation on and off the field.”

Jones also said he was “proud” of Cheika, a former team-mate at Randwick, with whom he has always enjoyed some verbal sparring.

“We know about Australia, they are a great tournament side,” he said. “I think Cheik has done a really good job. I’m proud of the job he does.”

Cheika, meanwhile, said of his ­counterpart: “He’s done a good job, but it always hurts me when there’s an Aussie over there [in England], you know what I mean?

"Trevor Bayliss [cricket], Eddie and Wayne Bennett [rugby league]."

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