RUGBY World Cup Australia v England:Australia have made an official request for tomorrow's quarter-final referee, Dublin's Alain Rolland, to pay close attention to what they allege England hooker Mark Regan gets up to on the field, in particular the way he throws into the lineout.
The 35-year-old Regan was recalled this week along with two other tight-five veterans in Phil Vickery and Simon Shaw, in a move the Wallabies believe was to beef up England's set-pieces. Australia's coach, John Connolly, said yesterday he had spoken to the International Rugby Board's referees manager, Paddy O'Brien, to make sure Regan did not get away with any gamesmanship.
"England picking Regan delivers an intent," said Connolly, who coached the hooker at Bath for two years.
"We have spoken to Paddy O'Brien to make sure Regan behaves himself and that the game is fair and clean, as opposed to the other side of it."
Connolly made the remark as a parting shot after his team announcement. He was reluctant to amplify his remarks, saying merely: "The referee has to keep an eye on Regan's behaviour. By that I mean stepping over the line (when throwing into the lineout) and other bits."
Under tournament regulations, coaches are not permitted to speak to referees before matches or try to influence them by making remarks to the media. However, there is nothing to stop Connolly making public an appeal to O'Brien, and South Africa had similar concerns about Regan before last month's group game in Paris.
Australia's main concern about England is the scrum. They remember the way they were mangled by Andrew Sheridan and Phil Vickery at Twickenham two years ago, and hard though the Wallabies have worked on that area, even Wales gave them a tough time in Cardiff last month.
Connolly's selection was predictable, with Adam Ashley-Cooper, a sturdier presence in defence, beating Drew Mitchell for the left-wing place. The captain, Stirling Mortlock, has recovered from a shoulder injury and the 21-year-old outhalf Berrick Barnes will be starting his third international, having made his debut against Japan as a replacement last month.
"England have chosen a tough forward pack and I know there is history between the sides," said the replacement secondrow Hugh McMeniman. "Michael Foley has coached some of their players and he says some of them are pretty rough. You can expect anything from the English really, such as off-the-ball stuff, and if you are lying on the ball next to a bloke you can expect something from him such as a bit of a scratch on the eye, but all the forwards have dealt with that before."
England will turn to Mike Catt to rescue their campaign tomorrow after a strained calf forced Andy Farrell to withdraw from the quarter-final and left the head coach Brian Ashton's carefully laid midfield plans in disarray.
Farrell pulled his right calf muscle while chasing a kick in training and Olly Barkley is also nursing a dead leg after a collision with his captain, Phil Vickery. Ashton is not due to make an official announcement until lunchtime today but it is understood the 36-year-old Catt will feature in what could be the defining game of England's tournament.
Catt, a survivor of England's 2003 triumph, has not featured since the dismal 36-0 defeat to the Springboks in Paris when he deputised for the injured Wilkinson at number 10, with Farrell at inside-centre. He has been giving Ashton tactical assistance behind the scenes but musthave feared his 72-cap Test career was at an end after failing to make the 22-man match-day squad for the past three weeks.
Guardian Service
